C4-5 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


Introduction  to  tbe  StuoE  of  Xouteiana  f)i6tor£. 


Houieiana: 

A  SKETCH  IN  OUTLINE 

—OF  ITS — 

....  past  anb  present .... 


BY  HENRY  E.  CHAMBERS, 

Author  of  a  School  History  of  the  United  States;  A  Higher  History 

of  the  United  States;  Constitutional  History  of  Hawaii; 

West  Florida:  Colony,  Province,  and  State. 

and  its  Relation  to  the  Historical 

Cartography  of  the  United 

States,  etc.,  etc. 


NEW  ORLEANS: 
F.  F.  HANSELL  &  BRO. 


Copyrighted.  1897. 


PRESS  OF   THE 

LOUISIANA  INDUSTRIAL   INSTITUTE. 
RUSTON,   I,A. 


TO 
THE   TEACHERS     OF   LOUISIANA, 

ESPECIALLY   TO   THOSE   WHO, 

IN  THE   GROWING   BRIGHTNESS   OF   THE   PRESENT, 
CAN   LOOK   BACK   INTO  THE   DARKENED 

PAST 
AND   SEE   THEIR     STEADINESS   OF  EFFORT, 

WHEREBY 
THE  COMING  OF  THE  DAY 

WAS 
HASTENED. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I.   PAST  HISTORY. 

I.  The  Louisiana  of  History 9 

II.  The  Heart  of  the  Continent 11 

III.  The  Quest  for  the  Fabulous 14 

IV.  "In  the  name  of  King  Louis" 16 

V.  Plans  Miscarried 18 

VI.  A  Foothold  for  France 20 

VII.  Spoil  and  Speculation 23 

VIII.  The  Founding  of  New  Orleans 26 

IX.  Indian  Wars 28 

X.  The  Waning  of  French  Power 31 

XI.  The  Romance  of  the  French  Colony 33 

XII.  The  Transfer  to  Spain 36 

XIII.  Spanish  Governors 39 

XIV.  Louisiana  in  the  American  Revolution 41 

XV.  The  Sale  of  a  Province 44 

XVI.  A  Short-lived  American  State 47 

XVII.  The  Battle  of  New  Orleans.  .  50 


?  CONTENTS. 

XIII.  Ante-Bellum  Louisiana 54 

XIX.  On  the  Side  of  the  Gray 57 

XX.  At  the  Feet  of  Henry  Clay 61 


PART  II.   PRESENT  CONDITION. 

I.  The  Geography  of  the  State 69 

II.  Industrial  Louisiana 73 

III.  The  Commerce  of  New  Orleans 77 

IV.  Education  in  Louisiana 80 

V.  The  Literatures  of  Louisiana 85 

VI.  Louisiana's  Future. .  90 


PART  I. 


A  Short  Sketch  of  Louisiana's 
Past  History. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


JSrief  Xiet  of  JBoofcs  Current  an£>  Obtainable. 


HISTORIES  OF  LOUISIANA. 
Gayarre:  History  of  Louisiana.  (4  vols.) 
Martin:  History  of  Louisiana. 
Thompson:  Story  of  Louisiana. 
King  and  Ficklen:  School  History  of  Louisiana. 
Goodspeed:  Historical  Memoires  of  Louisiana.  (2  vols.) 
Uimitry:  History  and  Geography  of  Louisiana. 
Landry  (Mme.):  Child's  History  of  Louisiana  (in  French). 


MISCELLANEOUS. 
Winsor:  Narative  and  Critical  History  of  America.  (Vols. 

IV  and  V.) 
King  (Miss  Grace):   New  Orleans:    the    Place    and   the 

People.    (Contains  much    of    Louisiana   history   in 

most  attractive  form.) 
Castellanos:  New  Orleans  As  It  Was. 
Parkman:  Pioneers  of  France  in  the  New  World. 
King  (Miss  Grace):  Bienville.  (Makers  of  America  Series). 
Fortier:  Louisiana  Studies. 
Roosevelt:  War  of  1812  (Battle  of  New  Orleans). 
Johnston:  Acadia. 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  STUDY 


Houisiana 


Xouieiana 
of  1foi0tor£, 


To  the  historian  the  name  Louisiana  means  more 
than  the  little  commonwealth  forming  the  keystone  of 
the  arch  of  states  about  the  northern  shores  of  Mexic  . 

To  him  it  is  a  vast  unde- 
fined wilderness  con- 
tended for  by  mighty  na- 
tions in  an  epoch-making 
struggle;1  a  province  passing  from  jurisdiction  to  juris- 
diction, and  in  the  passing  occupying  the  attention  of 
•some  of  the  most  adroit  of  European  diplomats;2  a  terri- 
tory whose  purchase  changed  the  character  of  our  federal 
union  and  sounded  the  advance  along  the  lines  of  our  na- 
tional destiny.3 

It  suggests  a  political    soil  which    germinated  the 

1  The  French  and  Indian  War. 

2  De  Choiseul,  Tally  rand,  Marbois,  Napoleon,  etc. 

3  Federal  jurisdiction  over  the  American  continent. 


10  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

seeds  of  one  of  the  greatest  conflicts  of  modern  times;'1  a 
people  who  have  preserved  their  European  traditions  to 
the  latest  day  intact;  a  citizenry  who  have  suffered 
and  sacrificed  to  guard  sacredly  and  inviolately  the  spirit 
of  our  earlier  American  institutions;5  and  finally  a  narra- 
tive tinged  with  tragedy  and  pathos,  fringed  with  tri- 
umph and  achievement,  and  replete  in  all  its  parts  with 
most  romantic  interest.  Few  themes  more  inspiring  were 
ever  given  to  him  to  interpret. 

4  The  War  between  the  States,  foreshadowed  by  the  Misouri 

[Compromise. 

s  Self-government.  State  Sovereignty.  Constitutional  liberty. 

[etc. 


Ibeart  of 


tbe  Continent. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  11 


II 

However  strenuously  the  claim  may  be  maintained, 
that  the  Western  continent  was  known  to  the  Phoeni- 
cians, Norse,  Welsh,  and  other  maritime  peoples  of  the 

past,  the  fact  remains 
that  Columbus  was  the 
first  to  bring  the  New 
World  within  the  practi- 
cal knowledge  of  the  nations  of  modern  Europe.  The 
sucessful  termination  of  his  first  voyage  was  immedi- 
ately followed  by  Spanish  occupancy  of  the  principal 
West  Indie  islands.  From  these,  Spanish  exploration 
and  dominion  soon  extended  to  the  mainland. 

Grijalva6  reaching  the  coast  of  Mexico,  wras  followed 
by  Cortez,7  whose  ruthless  conquest  of  the  Aztec  realm 
constitutes  one  of  the  saddest  of  the  earlier  pages  of 
Americanh  story.  With  Cuba  and  Mexico  as  bases,  the 
Spaniards  oon  entered  what  is  now  the  United  States. 
De  Leon  in  his  memorable  search  for  the  "fountain  of 
youth"8  explored  and  named  Florida.  De  Ayllonon 
one  of  his  slave  hunting  expeditions  reached  the  coast 
of  South  Carolina,  then  called  Chicora.9  DeNarvaez 
undertook  the  conquest  of  Florida,10  but  disaster  befall- 


e  1518.  8  1512.  i  o  1538. 

7  1530.  9  1520. 


12  AN  INTfiODVCTlOfl  TO 

ing  him  and  his  vessels,  a  few  of  his  men  made  their  way 
overland  to  Mexico.  Among  these  were  Cabecca  da  Vaca 
who  upon  his  arrival  unfolded  such  a  wondrous  narra- 
tive of  adventures  encountered  and  of  fabulons  peoples 
visited,  as  stamps  him  for  all  time  the  first  American 
Munchausen. 

From  Mexico  Spanish  conquest  extended  northward. 
Coronado,11  Onate,T2  Espejo,13  added  to  the  domain  of 
New  Spain  the  greater  portion  of  what  is  now  the  south- 
western part  of  the  United  States;  and  Cabrillo  traced 
the  western  coast  line  of  California  as  far  north  as  Cape 
Mendocino.14 

The  claim  of  Spain  to  a  monopoly  of  the  New  World 
was  at  an  early  day  ignored  by  England  and  France. 
While  Spanish  discoveries  were  yet  of  an  insular  nature, 
the  Cabots  from  England  had  sailed  directly  across  the 
Atlantic,  discovered  the  mainland  of  Labrador,  and  ex- 
plored the  east  coast  for  some  distance  southward.15 

Afters  long  period  of  unaccountable  inactivity,  Sir 
Humphrey  Gilbert,16  Amidas  and  Barlow,17  Gosnold,18 
Pring, 19  Weymouth,20  and  others  carried  the  flag  of 
England  to  the  eastern  coast  of  what  is  now  the  United 
States,  and  prepared  the  way  for  the  thirteen  English 
colonies  whose  territorial  claims  were  subsequently  to 

1 1  1540.  i  s  1497-8.  i  s  1602. 

12  1595-9.  i  e  1579-83.  1 »  1603. 
131582.                                        171584.                                               201605. 

J  4  1542. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  13 

be  maintained  as  extend  ing  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard 
indefinitely  westward. 

Meanwhile  France  had  established  for  herself  a  foot- 
hold in  America.  Penys2 *  was  the  first  to  carry  the  flag  of 
a  European  nation  into  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Yerraz- 
anni22  voyaged  over  much  of  the  same  route  pursued  by 
the  Cabots.  Cartier23  andChamplain24  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  New  France  in  the  region  watered  by  the  St. 
Lawrence  river. 

French  occupancy  of  Canada  was  followed  by  an  in- 
land exploration,  participated  in  by  stalwart  Coureurs- 
de-bvis,  shrewd  fur-traders,  gowned  priests,  and  high- 
born adventurers.  Soon  the  heart  of  the  continent  was 
reached  from  the  northeast  as  it  had  been  from  the 
southeast  and  southwest.  Thus  it  was  that  three  woo- 
ers from  over  the  sea  appear  upon  the  scene  as  suitors 
for  the  hand  of  the  queen  valley  of  the  western  world. 

211506.  231534-5  241608. 

2  2  1524. 


14  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


Ill 

First  to  emerge  from  the  mist  of  Louisiana's  re- 
mote past  is  the  distinct  figure  of  Hernando  de  Soto. 
Among  the  earliest  adventurers  to  reach  America  from 

Spain,  he  had  shared 
with  Pizarro  the  gains 
and  honors  of  Peruvian 


©ueet  for 


tbc  f  abuloue* 

conquest,     returned    to 


his  native  country,  married  the  Castilian  dame  of  his 
choice,  and  in  full  enjoyment  of  his  riches  looked  to  a 
future  of  unending  prosperity. 

But  from  the  New  World  were  borne  to  his  ears  the  tales 
of  Da  Vaca  which  told  of  unconquered  peoples  whose 
subduing  would  confer  upon  the  victor  a  name  higher 
than  any  in  the  annals  of  Spanish  conquest,  riches  that 
would  enable  the  wrester  to  look  down  upon  the  princes 
of  the  earth. 

With  the  first  hearing  came  an  end  to  his  content- 
ment. Again  must  the  New  World  know  his  presence, 
new  races  feel  the  weight  of  his  warrior  arm,  new 
regions  by  his  energy  and  valor  be  added  to  the  domain 
of  Spain.  And  thus  it  was  that  in -1539  he  landed  at 
Tampa  Bay,  Florida.  With  him  was  a  carefully  selected 
body  of  men  numbering  more  than  six  hundred,  all 
equipped  to  the  minutest  detail.  The  story  of  his 
march  into  the  interior  has  often  been  told.  It  is  a 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  lo 

tale  of  endurance,  of  courage,  of  fortitude,  of  loyalty. 
and  unanimity  of  purpose,  of  dogged  determination,  of 
disaster,  of  tragedy  and  of  heroism. 

North  to  the  mountains  of  North  Georgia  ;  south- 
west through  the  length  of  Alabama  to  the  Indian  town 
of  Mauvilla;25  northwest  diagonally  across  the  State 
of  Mississippi  marched  the  invaders.  Their  march  was 
a  succession  of  harrassings  and  savage  baitings  whose 
chronicles  find  fit  place  among  the  nightmares  of  his- 
tory. The  Mississippi  river  was  discovered  and  crossed26 
below  Memphis,  and  reaching  the  Missouri  line,  the  in- 
vaders turned  southward,  their  numbers  lessening  day 
by  day.  Nothing  did  they  encounter  in  the  whole  length 
of  their  march  to  verify  the  rumors  that  had  instigated 
their  ill-fated  enterprise.  Their  toilsome  way  was  slowly 
made  until  they  reached  what  is  now  northeastern 
Louisiana.  Here  amid  the  glooms  of  swamps  and 
river  bottoms,  hemmed  in  by  vengeful  enemies,  a 
weary  remnant  of  that  once  fearless  band  gathered 
about  their  leader.  Grim  and  stubborn  soldier  that 
he  was,  nothing  but  death  could  vanquish  him,  and  here 
it  was  that  he  was  overcome.  In  the  dead  of  night  his 
body  found  a  watery  sepulchre  in  the  mighty  river  he  had 
discovered.  His  survivors  made  their  way  slowly  to  the 
settlements  of  Mexico,  having  devoted  two  long  years  to 
their  unsuccessful  search. 

25  Near  Mobile.  ze  1541. 


16  AN  INTEODUCTION  TO 


IV 

In  the  sixty  years  following  the  founding  of  Que- 
bec,28 the  forerunners  of  French  civilization  in  America 
had  reached  the  regions  about  the  shores  of  the  great 

lakes.  Among  the  first 
to  come  to  the  hither 
side  and  enter  what  is 
now  the  United  States 


"11  n  tbe  name  of 


were  Nicollet,  Marquette,  Joliet,  Allouez,  Hennepin,  Du- 
Luth,  Tonti,  and  La  Salle — names  made  familiar  to  us  in 
the  earlier  chronicles  of  inland  explorations. 

From  their  Indian  friends  the  pioneers  of  New 
France  learned  of  a  great  river  further  to  the  west,  whose 
flow  was  southward.  Marquette  and  Joliet  made  their 
way  to  this  river  through  the  wilds  of  Wisconsin, 
descended  it  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas;2  9and 
concluding  that  it  must  empty  into  the  great  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  returned  and  reported  their  adventures. 

Into  the  master  mind  of  Eobert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle, 
a  high  born  adventurer,  there  entered  a  conception  to 
extend  the  dominion  of  France  from  sea  to  sea  by 
French  possession  of  this  southward  flowing  stream. 
His  efforts  covered  a  period  of  several  years.  They  in- 
cluded the  establishment  of  a  chain  of  forts  and  posts 

281608.  291673. 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY.  17 

reaching  from  the  St.  Lawrence,  30  to  the  Illinois  coun- 
try, 31  and  the  exploration  of  the  river  called  by  the 
Indians  the  Miche  Sepe  from  source  to^sea. 

Hennepin  and  Dacan  were  sent  to  the  headwaters,32 
La  Salle,  his  faithful  colleague,  Tonti,  Father  Zeuobe,  and 
twenty  Canadians  voyaged  down  the  river,  planted  the 
arms  of  France  upon  either  side,  entered  into  treaties 
with  the  numerous  tribes  along  its  banks,  and  finally 
reaching  the  mouth,  with  solemn  hymn  and  fiery  salute 
took  possession  of  the  whole  territory  watered  by  the 
main  stream  and  its  tributaries,  in  the  name  of  Louis 
XIY,  king  of  France.33  This  is  where  the  name,  Louis- 
iana, first  appears  upon  the  map  of  history. 

De  Soto  the  Spaniard  had  set  foot  in  the  region 
traversed  by  La  Salle,  one  hundred  and  forty  years 
before, —  the  first  European  to  do  so.  In  that  time  a 
great  change  had  been  wrought  in  European  affairs. 
King  Louis  of  France  had  attained  the  ascendancy, 
Spain  was  entering  upon  the  period  of  her  decadence  and 
was  no  longer  able  to  maintain  against  her  powerful 
.neighbor,  a  claim  to  territory  she  had  not  occupied. 
France  had  won  the  territorial  prize. 

so  Fort  Frontenac.  32  1680. 

si  Fort  Oreve  Coeur.  33  April,  9,  1682. 


flDiecarriei), 


18  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


y 

Upon  La  Salle's  return  to  France  he  was  received  by 
the  king  with  every  manifestation  of  regard.  Resources 
were  placed  at  his  disposal,  and  he  soon  had  upon  the 

high  seas  a  small  fleet 
laden  with  colonists 
and  supplies,  whose  des- 
tination was  the  mouth 
of  the  river  over  whose  shores  the  juris- 
diction of  France  had  been  proclaimed.  Misfortune  at- 
tended this  colonizing  enterprise  from  the  start.  One 
of  the  vessels  was  captured  by  Spanish  privateers,  two 
were  wrecked  after  entering  the  gulf.  The  plans  of  La 
Salle  were  unwarrantedly  interfered  with  by  his  naval 
commander.'-54  To  crown  his  misfortunes,  miscalcula- 
tions carried  the  fleet  far  to  the  westward  of  the  Miss- 
issippi. 

The  disaffection  of  the  commander  compelled  a 
landing,  and  the  shores  of  Matagorda  bay. Texas,  received 
the  two  hundred  and  fifty  colonists  that  should  have 
been  the  nucleus  of  the  earlier  population  of  Louisiana. 
Upon  the  banks  of  the  Lavaca  river  near  by,  a  fort  was 
built  and  named  St.  Louis.  Now  began  a  series  of  at- 
tempts to  reach  the  French  posts  in  the  Illinois  country. 
Upon  the  last  of  the  expeditions  undertaken  with  this 
34  Beaujeu. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  W 

end  in  view,  LaSalle  was  murdered  by  treacherous  com- 
panions.35 The  "Prince  of  American  Explorers,"  after 
years  of  toil  and  partial  achievement,  found  but  an  un- 
known grave  in  the  wilderness  of  what  is  now  east  Texas. 

Meanwhile  the  gallant  Tonti  had  again  voyaged  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river  to  meet  his  loved  commander, 
only  to  return  disappointed,  little  knowing  how  sere  was 
the  need  of  his  old  chief  for  tried  friends  and  faithful 
servitors.  Tonti  established  a  little  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Arkansas,36  the  earliest  settlement  on  the 
lower  Mississippi.  Upon  maps  of  a  comparatively  recent 
date  this  will  be  found  under  the  name  of  Arkansas  Post, 
though  its  site  has  long  since  crumbled  into  the  river. 

It  was  to  this  post  that  the  few  of  LaSalle's  follow- 
ers not  concerned  in  the  murder  eventually  made  their 
way.  The  conspirators,  however,  dared  never  to  return 
to  civilization, but  remained  behind  and  lost  in  time  their 
identity  among  the  savages  with  whom  they  took  up 
their  abode.  The  fate  of  those  whom  LaSalle  had  left 
at  Fort  St.  Louis  previous  to  his  last  and  fatal  expedition 
was  indeed  pitiful.  When,  under  Alonzo  de  Leon,  a 
force  came  up  from  Mexico37 to  drive  the  French  intruders 
from  what  was  considered  the  soil  ol  New  Spain,  fewr  of 
the  trespassers  had  escaped  disease  and  privation,  and 
these  few  were  found  living  in  all  hopelessness  among 
the  neigh  boring  tribe  6f  Indians. 

ss  Lancelot,  Liotot,  and  Hiens  were  the  names  of  the  con- 
spirators, se  1686.  37  1689. 


SO  A  N  JNTEOD  UCTION  TO 


H  f  ootboit) 
for  f  ranee* 


Next  appears  upon  the  scene  Pierre  Lemoyne.  Sieur 
d'Iberville.  The  period  of  American  beginnings  presents 
to  us  no  more  heroic  a  figure.  Iberville  was  a  Canadian 

by  birth, — one  of  the 
eleven  brothers  all  of 
whom  attained  eminence 
by  faithful  adherence  to 
king,  country,  and  conscience.  As  an  officer  in  the  navy 
of  France  he  rose  to  high  distinction.  In  the  wars  with 
England  he  rendered  valuable  service  in  the  waters  about 
Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  and  it  was  he  who  taught 
the  boastful  Briton  a  lesson  of  naval  superiority  long  be- 
fore the  Americans  of  a  later  day  successfully  undertook 
the  same  unpleasant  duty.38 

Iberville  was  commissioned  to  establish  settlements 
in  lower  Louisiana.  France's  determination  to  revive  the 
plans  of  La  Salle  was  arrived   at  none  too  soon.    The 
Spaniards  in  their  establishing  of  missions  were  making 
their  way  slowly  up  from  Mexico.    Soon  would  the  Eng- 
lish trader  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard  be    making  his 
way  westward.    If  France  would  possess  she  must  occupy. 
Associated  with  Iberville  was  liis  brother  Bienville. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  near  what  is  now    Ocean 
as  War  of  1812. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  21 

Spring-son  the  gulf  coast  of  Mississippi,  and  here  upon  a 
beautiful'  bay  named  from  the  neighboring  tribe  Biloxi, 
a  fort  was  built  and  called  Fort  Manrepas.8*  Here  the 
seat  of  government  for  lower  Louisiana  was  established, 
and  the  Sieur  Sauvolle  was  appointed  the  first  governor. 

Bienville  and  Ibervilie  immediately  began  an  explor- 
ation of  the  surrounding  region.  In  barges  they  traced 
much  of  the  coast  line,  entered  the  Mississippi,  and  as- 
cended as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Red  river.  Returning 
the  brothers  parted  a  little  south  of  the  present  site  of 
Baton  Rouge,  Ibervilie  returning  to  Biloxi  by  way  of  a 
bayou  called  Manchac40  and  the  chain  of  lakes  upon 
which  were  bestowed  the  names  of  Maurepis,  Pontchar- 
train  and  Borgne.  Continuing  down  the  riv3r  Bienvil  e 
obtained  that  knowledge  of  its  banks  which  enabled 
him  subsequently  to  select  a  suitable  site  upon  which  to 
establish  a  settlement.  This  soon  became  necessary,  for 
Bienville  upon  one  of  his  explorations  dowrn  the  Missis- 
sippi encountered  an  English  vessel  ascending  from  its 
mouth,  and  if  he  had  not  succeeded  in  persuading  the 
captain  that  the  French  were  already  in  possession  of 
the  country  the  visit  of  this  vessel  might  have  resulted 
in  the  English  colonization  of  the  region  in  question. 

In  order  to  hoi  a  the  territory  along  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi for  France,  forts  were  established  near  what  is  now 
the  town  of  Natchitoches,41  and  another  near  Natchez.41 

39  1699.  ^o  Now  closed.  41  1714. 


<22  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

This  last  was  called  Fort  Rosalie  and   its  establishment 
was  for  the  purpose  of  counteracting  the  English  influ-  * 
ence  that  was  even  at  that  early  day  making  itself  felt 
among  the  Chickasaws  and  other  Indian  tribes. 


Spoil  anb 
Speculation. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  23 


VII 

The  first  governor  of  the  French  colony  of  Louisi- 
ana was  Sau  voile  who  dying  shortly  after  was  succeeded 
by  Bienville.  And  here  another  central  figure  steps 

upon  the  scene  of  Louisi- 
ana history.  Young  in 
years,  adroit,  tactful  and 
intelligent,  we  find  him 
devoting  his  entire  energies  to  the  firm  establishment 
of  the  colony;  and  when  after  years  of  unswerving 
fidelity  to  its  interests,  and  after  having  served  as 
governor  three  times  he  returned  to  France,  the  title  of 
father  and  preserver  of  Louisiana  was  as  firmly  his  as 
was  the  similar  title  of  Capt.  John  Smith  of  colonial 
Virginia  fame. 

The  growth  of  the  colony  was  at  first  slow.  In  all  low- 
er Louisiana  the  population  in  1712  numbered  but  little 
more  than  400.  In  this  year  the  French  government 
pursuing  a  plan  similar  to  that  which  led  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  several  Englsh  colonies44  under  proprietary 
grantees  bestowed  upon  a  wealthy  citizen  of  France, 
Anthony  Crozat  by  name,  exclusive  rights  to  the  trade 
and  commerce  of  Louisiana  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years, 
thereby  constituting  him  the  virtual  owner  of  the  terri- 
tory for  the  time  specified. 

42  1716.  43  Aug.  22nd,  1701.         44  pa.,  Md.,  and  the  Carolinas. 


24  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

Crozat  sent  his  own  governor  in  the  person  of  LaMothe 
Cardillac,  a  name  which  will  be  found  closely  associated 
with  the  early  history  of  Detroit.  The  superseding  of 
Bienville  was  not  well  received  by  the  colonists,  and 
unpleasant  contentions  arose  between  the  deposed  gov- 
ernor and  his  successor. 

The  mind  of  Crozat  was  haunted  by  the  old  dream 
of  mineral  treasures  to  be  found,  and  much  of  his  ener- 
gies were  dissipated  in  fruitless  efforts  of  discovery  in 
this  direction,  which  should  have  been  directed  towards 
the  development  of  the  colony. 

Cardillac  was  succeeded  by  1'Epinay,  and  until  the 
new  governor  arrived,45  Bienville  was-temporarily  invest- 
ed with  the  duty  of  administering  affairs.  The  policy  of 
both  of  Crozat's  governors  was  such  as  to  produce  a 
demoralized  condition  in  the  colony,  and  before  a  third 
of  the  time  of  the  grant  had  expired,  Crozat  was  glad 
enough  to  rid  himself  of  that  which  had  proved  to  him  but 
an  unprofitable  enterprise;  so  he  relinquished  his  claim. 

With  the  passing  of  Crozat  comes  one  who  may  well 
be  termed  the  great  original  boomer,  in  the  person  of  John 
Law.  Of  Law's  connection  with  the  financial  history  of 
France  we  shall  have  little  to  say.  Considering  his  day 
and  generation  his  schemes  were  most  startling  and 
gigantic  in  their  conception.  A  study  of  his  methods  in 
connection  with  his  times  leads  one  to  conclude  that  he 

45  March  1717. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  25 

lived  too  early.  With  the  opportunities  of  our  day  he 
undoubtedly  would  have  placed  himself  among  the  Napo- 
leons of  modern  finance  who,  with  methods  of  as  doubt- 
ful honesty  have  made  themselves  moneyed  magnates 
of  our  land. 

Law  organized  the  Mississippi  Company.  The  object 
of  this  company  was  to  develop  Louisiana,  and  by  the 
sale  of  lands  and  grants  of  privileges  the  subscribers  and 
stockholders  would  realize  fabulous  returns  upon  their 
investment.  His  shrewd  methods  induced  thousands  to 
embark  in  the  venture;  the -final  failure  of  the  company 
scattered  ruin^and-devastation  among  ithe  household  of 
France,  a  parallel 'to  which  may  be  seen  in  «the  Panama 
Canal  scandal  of  the  day. 

And  yet  the  Mississippi  Company  did  make  some 
efforts  to  carry  out  its  purpose  in  regard  to  Louisiana. 
Before  the  bubble  burst  a  large  number  of  emigrants 
were  dispatched  to  our-shores,  and  Louisiana  felt  the  im- 
petus that  placed  her  on  the  way  to  permanency  and  suc- 
cess. Law  himself  settled  a  large  colony  of  German  emi- 
grants upon  a  grant  of  land  he  had  reserved 'to  himself 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas;  but  becoming  dissatis- 
fied'with  their  location  these  settlers  moved  down  the 
Mississippi  and  were  granted  lands  a  short  distance  above 
New  Orleans,  since  known  as  the  German  Coast. 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


VIII 

The  inroads  of  the  Spaniards  from  the  southwest,  and 
of  the  English  from  the  east,  which  necessitated  the  estab- 
lishment of  Forts  Eosalie  and  Natchitoches,  convinced 

the  French  that  to  thor- 
oughly command  the  ter- 
ritory they  should  fix 
their  principal  settle- 


jfounMna  of 
IRevo  ©rlerne* 


ment  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  at  some  point  easily 
accessible  from  the  sea. 

With  the  coming  of  the  colonists  sent  over  by  Law's 
company  Bienville  immediately  took  steps  to  put  this 
plan  into  execution.  Selecting  a  site  occupied  by  the 
Indian  village  of  Tchoutchouma,  about  100  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  he  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
now  historic  city  of  New  Orleans.46  In  five  years  this 
became  the  most  important  settlement  in  lower  Lou- 
isiana, and  to  it  the  seat  of  government  was  soon  trans- 
ferred.47 

All  about  were  lands  remarkable  to  this  day  for  extra- 
ordinary fertility.  In  the  course  of  time  these  lands  were 
granted  and  sold.  Colonies  -were  planted,  settlements 
sprang  up,  and  plantations  were  laid  out  along  the  banks 

461718.  -«7  1723. 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY.  27 

of  the  river.  Agricultural  industries  of  a  profitable  char- 
acter were  rapidly  developed.  Slaves  were  imported,  and 
these  added  to  the  wealth  of  the  rapidly  growing  'colony. 
Regular  and -frequent  communication  with  the  northern 
portion  of  the  province,  as  well  as  with  the  more  distant 
Canada,  was  maintained.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the 
names  of  the  nine'districts  into  which  the  Louisiana  of 
those  -days  was  divided.  These  were:  New  Orleans, 
Biloxi,48  Natchitoches,  Natchez,48  Yazoo,  Alabamans, 
Arkansas,  and  Illinois. 

<«  Now  part  of  Mississippi. 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


IX- 


The  student  of  American  history  recognizes  the  fact 
that  the  French  above  all  other  nations  that  colonized 
America  were  most  uniformly  successful  in  dealing  with 


I  the  natives.  An  excep- 
tion must  be  made  how- 
ever of  the  French  set- 
tlers of  Louisiana.  Two 
disastrous  Indian  wars  mar  the  early  history  of  the  col- 
ony. 

The  first  of  these  was  the  Natchez  war.  It  appears 
that  Du  Chopart,  the  French  commandant  of  Fort  Rosa- 
lie, wishing  to  extend  the  'bounds  of  his  settlement, 
insisted  that  the  Natchez  Indians  should  abandon  their 
time-honored  village  of  the  White  Apple  nearby.  These 
Indians  were  among  the  most  intelligent  of  all  who  were 
found-by  Europeans-dwelling  upon  this  continent.  In 
civilization  they  had  reached  a  position  second  only  to 
those  of  Mexico.  At  first  the  Natchez  pretended  to 
acquiesce  to -the  demands  of  their  French  neighbors,  beg- 
ging for  a  little  time  in  which  to  arrange  for  their  re- 
moval. Then  it  was  that  word  was  sent  around  to  the 
various  villages,  together  with  little  bundles  of  sticks. 
Each  morning  a  stick  was  taken  from  the  bundle  and 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  29 

broken;  and  with  the  breaking  of  the  last  came  a 
concerted  movement  which  ended  with  the -capture  of 
Ft.  Koaslie,  and  massacre  of  the  entire  garrison,  number- 
ing upwards  of  seven  hundred.49 

The  triumph  of  the  Natchez  was  of  short  duration, 
for  Commandante  General  Perier,  who  at  the  time  was 
governor,  with  a  force  from  lower  Louisiana  settlements 
completely  destroyed  the  tribe  in  the  war  that  followed. 

North  of  the  territory  of  the  Natchez  lived  the 
Chickasaw  Indians,  famous  for  their  prowess  and  fight- 
ing qualities.  These  were  the  Indians  who  opposed  so 
fiercely  the  march  of  De  Soto  and  his  men  years  before 
The  French  had  never  succeeded  in  winning  the  Chick- 
asaws  to  their  side,  and  English  emissaries  found  it  no 
difficult  matter  to  stir  thenrup  to  hostilities.50 

Bienville  who  at  the  time  was  serving  his  third  term 
as  governor  took  steps  to  subdue  the  hostiles.  He  order- 
ed a  force  from  Ft.  Chartres  in  the  Illinois  country  un- 
der the  young  and  intrepid  d'  Artaguette  to  march  south- 
ward to  the  Chickasaws'  stronghold,  while  he  himself 
advanced  northward  with  a  heavy  force  from  New  Orleans. 
In  this  expedition  Bienville  was  singularly  unfortunate. 
Arriving  upon  the  scene  he,  without  waiting  for  d'Arta- 
guette,  made  an  impetuous  attack  upon  the  strongest  of 
the  Chickasaw  forts,  but  was  repulsed  and  so  seriously 
disabled  that  he  was  compelled  to  return  to  New  Orleans, 

481729.  501736. 


so 


AN  INTEODV^TION  TO 


shortly  after  reaching  which  place  he  learned  that  d'- 
Artaguette  and  his  men  had  met  with  a  worse  fate,  many 
of  them  having  been  put  to  death.  Subsequently 
Bienville  prepared  another  expedition,  but  it  only  result- 
ed in  bringing  about  a  treaty  of  peace  not  altogether  ad- 
vantageous to  the  French. 


Gbe  Marlins  of 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  31 

X 

Briefly  enumerated  the  governors  of  Louisiana 
while  it  was  a  colony  of  France  were  as  follows:  Sauvolle, 
Bienville  (first  term),  Cardilacca,  De  1'Epinay,  Bienville 

(second  term),  Perier, 
Bienville  -(third  term), 
De  Vaudreuil,  Kerlerec, 
D'Abbadie,  and  Aubry. 

We  come  now  to  a  time  when  Louisiana  passed  to 
the  dominion  of  Spain,  and  in  order  to  understand  the 
facts  of  the  transfer  we  must  widen  our  view  so  as  to 
include  certain  significant  events  that  were  happening 
elsewhere—  events  having  a  most  important  bearing 
upon  what  subsequently  became  thellnited  States. 

The  English  colonies  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard 
had  so  increased  in  population  that  by  1754  pioneers  were 
crossing  the  Alleghany  mountains.  To  the  French  who 
claimed  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio,  these 
pioneers  were  looked  upon  as  intruders,  and  were  so 
dealt  with. 

The  history  of  colonial  America  is  a  record  of  fierce 
and  jealous  conflicts  between  the  French  of  Canada  and 
the  English  south  of  them.  Three  times  had  colonial 
rivalry  crystallized  into  formal  warfare,  each  instance  of 
which  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  monarch  who  occu- 
pied the  English  throne  at  the  time — King  William 's? 
Queen  Anne's,  and  King  George's  wars. 


82  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

When  English  settlers  first  penetrated  to  the  Ohio 
valley,  the  inevitable  conflict  deciding  who  were  to 
be  the  masters  of  America  was  precipitated.  In  Ameri- 
can annals  this  is  known  as  the  French  and  Indian  War. 

Space  does  not  permit  any  dwelling  upon  the  feat- 
ures of  this  war,  or  to  detail  the  European  complications 
which  compelled  France  to  withold  assistance  from  her 
needy  colonial  possessions  then  grappling  with  England 
in  a  life  aud  death  struggle.  The  war  ended  with  the 
fall  of  Quebec,  and  the  English  proved  the  victors.  By 
the  terms  of  the  treaty  terminating  hostilities51  France 
was  compelled  to  relinquish  all  her  territories  upon  the 
continent  of  America.  In  the  division  of  the  spoils,  that 
portion  of  Louisiana  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  fell  to 
England,  with  the  exception  of  the  small  triangular  por- 
tion lying  south  of  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and  known  as 
the  Isle  of  Orleans.  This  and  the  whole  territory  west 
of  the'  Mississippi  was  ceded  to  Spain  who  likewise  made 
a  cession  of  her  Florida  possessions  to  England. 

Thus  it  was  that  Louisiana  suffered  her  first  territo- 
rial loss  inasmuch  as  a  goodly  portion  of  her  domain  was 
wrested  from  her  through  no  fault  of  her  own.  In  time 
we  shall  see  how  she  was  deprived  of  the  remainder  in 
order  that  the  sisterhood  of  American  States  might  be 
completed.  Having  yielded  up  her  daughters  she  quietly 
reposes  a  mother  of  States  within  the  narrow  limits  now 
accorded  her. 

5 1 1763. 


LOUISIANA  HISTOEY.  33 


XI 

A  number  of  episode-3  characterize  the  history  of  Lou- 
isiana while  it  was  yet  a  colony  of  France,  which  if  re- 
counted, might  be  taken  for  the  most  imaginative  flights 

of  the  romancer's  fancy. 
Take  the  advent  of  the 
Casket  Girls  into  the  col- 


IRomance  of 


the  frencb  Colony 

ony.    The  experience  of 


Louisiana  was  similar  to  that  of  Virginia  in  its  earlier 
day,  inasmuch  as  in  the  beginning  of  both  colonies  it  was 
found  that  little  stability  and  permanence  could  be 
expected  unless  the  settlers  established  for  themselves 
homes.  And  how  could  homes  be  instituted  without 
wives !  In  the  casejof  Virginia  we  read  that  ninety  young 
women  were  sent  from  England  to  supply  the  matrimo- 
nial market,  and  each  colonist  of  Jamestown  who  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  secure  for  himself  one  of  those  enterpris- 
ing damsels  was  called  upon  to  pay  the  expenses  of  her 
sea  passage  in  good  standard  tobacco. 

In  Louisiana's  narrative  we  also  find  that  a  cargo  of 
virtuous  and  cultured  young  women  was  sent  over  from 
France.52  The  expense  was  borne  out  of  the  coffers  of 
the  French  king.  Each  girl  was  provided  with  a  small 
trunk  or  casket  in  which  she  carried  her  dowry  and  f  emi- 

521728. 


34  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

nine  outfit,  hence  arising  "Casket  Girls"  or  "Filles  a  la 
Cassette."  Mary  Hart  well  Catherwood  has  drawn  a  fine 
picture  in  her  "Romance  of  Pollard"  of  the  arrival  of  a 
similar  consignment  of  precious  freight  during  the  early 
period  of  Canadian  history.  It  is  needless  to  say  these 
casket  girls  were  well  received,  each  finding  herself  a 
veritable  queen,  and  in  the  exultation  of  their  new  found 
power  we  find  them  dictating  to  their  liege  lords  upon 
matters  of  domestic  economy,  even  going  so  far  as  to 
institute  a  "petticoat  insurrection"  because  forsooth  the 
new  fangled  diet  of  maize  to  which  they  were  introduced 
did  not  agree  with  their  gustatory  desires. 

The  storyjof  Evangeline  immortalized  in  the  verse 
of  Longfellow  is  for  that  reason  so  well  known  as  to  re- 
quire but  scant  allusion.  It  was  at  the  beginning  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  that  the  Acadians,  a  peace- 
ful, frugal,  industrious  and  home-loving  people,  were  un- 
mercifully torn  from  their  homes  by  English  conquerors 
and  scattered  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  Many  of  these 
made  their  way  to  Louisiana,  where 'the 'ties  of  kindred, 
language  [and  loyalties  soon  bound  them  into  close 
fellowship.  Along  the  banks  of  the  poetic  Teche,  and 
upon  the  prairies  of  what  is  now  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state,  these  Acadians  took  up  their  new  abode, 
their  descendants  becoming  a  most  valuable  element  of 
population,  'furnishing  in  time  the  state  with  brave 
defenders  and  civic  heroes. 

Today  the  tourist  finds  much  in  Louisiana  to  awaken 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY. 


35 


his  interest,  pleasure,  and  surprise.  But  fortunate  in- 
deed does  he  count  himself  if  before  his  visit  is  over  he 
has  penetrated  to  the  interior  of  the  state,  away  from  the 
rush  of  civilization,  and  felt  the  indescribable  charm  of 
peace,  contentment  and  simplicity  to  be  encountered  in 
many  a  humble  "cajun"  home. 


{Transfer 
to  Spain* 


36  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


XII 

The  intelligence  that  Louisiana  had  been  trans- 
ferred to  Spain  occasioned  much  angry  surprise  in  the 
colony.  The  love  of  Louisianians  for  their  mother 

country  was  of  an  in- 
tensity little  conceived 
of  in  these  days  of  easily 
broken  ties.  Loyalty  to 
their  king  was  regarded  by  them  as  the  brightest  jewel 
in  the  casket  of  their  virtues.  A  transfer  of  allegiance 
was  thoroughly  distasteful  to  them.  Indeed  it  was  some 
time  before  the  fact  forced  itself  home  to  their  minds 
that  they  were  aliens  to  the  land  of  their  inspirations, 
to  the  land  from  which  they  had  inherited  the  traditions 
that  mankind  generally  hold  dear. 

An  ugly  spirit  soon  manifested  itself  and  gradually 
increased  as  Spain  in  recognition  of  it  deferred  the  for- 
mal ceremony  of  taking  possession.  D'Abadie  who  was 
governor  when  the  treaty  was  agreed  upon,53  held  over  for 
two  years  undisturbed  and  was  succeeded  by  Aubry.  Anto- 
nio de  Ulloa  the  first  appointed  Spanish  governor  arrived 
in  J^ew  Orleans  March  5th,  1766,  but  hesitated  to  pro- 
claim the  authority  of  his  monarch,  Charles  III  of  Spain, 
in  fear  by  so  doing  of  precipitating  civil  strife. 

Aubry  stood  ready  to  surrender  the  province  as  soon 

S3  1763. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  37 

as  the  formal  demand  should  be  made.  It  was  this  fact 
that  wrought  the  colonists  up  to  the  point  of  revolution 
which  needed  but  governmental  interference  to  have 
culminated  in  blood  shed.  Ulloa  was  forced  to  depart,  not 
however,  without  having  been  subjected  to  some  indigni- 
ties on  the  part  of  the  more  hot-headed  and  ill-tempered 
ones. 

Then  followed  a  period  of  uncertainty.  A  commit- 
tee was  dispatched  to  France  to  plead  for  the  restoration 
of  French  authority  over  the  province,  but  without  suc- 
cess. Meanwhile  a  revolutionist  council  was  administer- 
ing affairs  in  the  colony.  But'  there  was  a  strange 
absence  of  that  triumphant  feeling  which  accompanies  a 
successful  political  movement.  The  skies  were  bright 
overhead  but  in  the  distance  was  the  cloud  "no  bigger 
than  a  man's  hand" — the  cloud  of  Spanish  vengeance. 

Don  Alexander  O'Reilly  was  the  instrument  of  this 
vengeance,  a  man  of  suave  and  courteous  manners,  but  of 
cool  and  determined  character.  Arriving  with  a  power- 
ful fleet  and  force,B¥he  proceeded  to  accomplish  the 
tasks  assigned  him  with  a  directness  that  was  a  distinct 
characteristic  of  his.  The  French  flag  was  lowered  and 
in  its  place  was  given  to  the  breeze  the  flag  of  Spain. 
Then  came  the  arrest  of  the  ringleaders  and  conspirators 
in  the  bloodless  revolution.  As  men  who  responded  to 
the  call  of  patriotism,  and  who  received  for  the  laurels  of 
revolution  the  penalties  of  rebellion,  let  their  names  be 
handed  down. 


38  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

They  were  Lafreniere,  Villere,  Marquis,  John  and 
Joseph  Milhet,  Mazent,  Doucet,  Poupet,  Petit, 
Foucault,  Brand,  Boisblanc,  Caresse,  and  Noyau  Bien- 
ville.  Of  these,  five  were  found  guilty  and  shot,  viz: 
Lafreniere,  Marquis,  Noyau  Bienville,  Joseph  Milhet, 
and  Caresse.  Six  were  transported  to  Havana— Doucet, 
Petit,  Boisblanc,  John  Milhet,  Maxent,  and  Poupet. 
Villere  was  slain  .under  particularly  harrowing  circum- 
stances. While  a  prisoner  OD  board  a  ship  in  the  harbor 
he  heard  the  voice  of  his  wife  who  had  come  on  board, 
supplicating  to  be  permitted  to  see  him.  Carried  away 
by  her  implorings  he  made  a  desperate  effort  to  reach 
her  side  and  was  killed  by  his  guard. 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY.  39 


XIII 

The  lesson  taught  by  O'Reilly  was  a  terrible  one; 
but  after  the  severity— justified  by  some  writers— with 
which  he  inflicted  punishment  upon  the  ringleaders 

of  the  colonial  revolt, 
the  colonists  had  little 
of  which  to  complain 
and  much  to  admire  in 


Spanieb 


(governors. 


their  new  ruler.  O'Reilly  reorganized  the  government, 
attended  carefully  to  the  proper  administering  of  affairs, 
and  conserved  the  interests  of  the  colony  in  such  a  way 
as  to  leave  behind  a-  flattering  record  for  wisdom  and 
prudence. 

In  succession  there  followed  him  as  governors  of 
Louisiana  during  the  Spanish  domination,  Unzaga, 
Galvez,  Miro,  Carondelet,  Casa  Calvo,  and  Salcedo— 
names  all  made  familiar  to  us  as  being -embodied  in  the 
nomenclature  of  New  Orleans  streets. 

As  a  rule  all  the  Spanish  governors  ruled  over  the 
colony  with  ability.  Under  the  influence  of  their  benign 
reigns  the  old  antagonism  to  Spain  soon  died  out. 
Unlike  most  of  the  late  French  governors  who  seemed  to 
have  little  in  common  with  the  colonists  except  to  exer- 
cise authority  over  them,  the  Spaniards  identified  them- 
selves with  the  people  ;  several  of  them  selected  wives 


40  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

from  among  the  fair  daughters  of  their  French  speaking 
subjects,  and  thus  bound  the  colonists  to  themselves  by 
the  strong  ties  of  relationship. 

For  thirty-four  years55  Louisiana  was  a  Spanish 
province.  In  that  time  the  population  of  New  Orleans 
increased  from  3190  to  10,000.  The  period  of  Spanish 
domination  furnishes  many  a  theme  for  song  and  story, 
and  several  Lonisiana  writers  are  delving  among  the 
treasures  and  bringing  to  the  light  of  the  ]9th  century 
civilization  the  gems  whose  sparkle  is  delighting  the 
lovers  of  American  literature. 

55  1769-1803. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY  41 


XIV 

Of  the  several  governors  who  exercised  authority 
over  the  colony  in  the  name  of  the  king  of  Spain,  with- 
out doubt,  the  most  remarkable  was  Don  Bernard  de 

Galvez.    At  the  time  of 


^Louisiana  in  tbe 
American  Devolution. 


his  incumbency  he  was 
but  a  youth  in  years, 
yet  he  left  a  deep  impress 
upon  his  time  and  environment  by  his  intrepedity  and 
genius. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  division  of  the 
French  territory  conquered  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War,  Spain  received  Louisiana,  and  surrendered  Flor- 
ida to  the  English.  The  Florida  of  those  days  extended 
to  the  Mississippi  river  and  its  western  portion  was 
bounded  by  the  Isle  of  Orleans  on  the  south. 

In  the  War  of  the  American  revolution,  England 
found  her  old  antagonist,  France,  arrayed  against  her 
and  espousing  the  cause  of  the  rebellious  English  colo- 
nies.56 Seeing  a  possible  opportunity  of  winning  back 
the  much  coveted  fortress  of  Gibraltar.  Spain  entered 
the  conflict  and  actively  engaged  in  hostilities  withEng- 
land." 

As  soon  as  news  reached  Louisiana  that  Spain  had 
se  French  alliance  of  1777.  57  1779. 


42  AN  INT  ROD  UCT1ON  TO 

declared  war,  Galvez  who  was  then  governor  immediately 
undertook  the  conquest  of  the  neighboring  English  col- 
ony of  West  Florida.  The  Louisianians  had  never  taken 
kindly  to  their  English  neighbors,  so  the  young  leader  had 
very  little  difficulty  in  raising  an  army.  With  1,400  men 
he  marched  northward  from  New  Orleans,  stormed  and 
captured  Fort  Bute  on  the  dividing  line  of  Manchac,  and 
followed  up  his  success  with  the  capture  of  the  British 
fort  at  what  is  now  Baton  Rouge.  His  next  undertaking 
was  to  proceed  to  Mobile,  which  post  surrendered  March 
14th,  1780. 

The  news  of  these  victories  was  received  with  great 
satisfaction  in  Spain.  Every  facility  was  now  accorded 
him  to  extend  his  operations.  His  next  expedition  was 
fitted  out  at  Havana  and  with  it  he  sailed  to  the  attack 
of  the  strongly  fortified  fort  at  Pensacola.  Here  he  was 
joined  by  reinforcements  from  New  Orleans  and  Mobile, 
under  Miro-  and  Espelleta  respectively.  The  personal 
bravery-  of -the  young  commander  always  entered  largely 
into  his  military  successes,  and  no  where  did  this  trait 
manifest  itself  more  than  in  the  attack  upon  Pensacola. 
The  fort  soon  capitulated  and 'Florida  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Mississippi,  by  right  of  conquest,  which  right  was 
afterward  confirmed,^8  became  again  Spanish  territory. 

Upon  Galvez  were  conferred  many  honors.  He  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant-General,  decorated  with  the 
cross  of  Knight  Pensioner,  and  created  a  count.  He 
s  8  Treaty  of  1783. 


LOUISIANA  HISTOEY.  W 

tilled  successively  the  position  of  Governor  of  Louisiana; 
Captain-General  -of  Louisiana  and  Florida;  Governor- 
General  of  Cuba,  the  Floridas,  and  Louisiana;  and 
Viceroy  of  Mexico.  With  a  record  of  achievements, 
attained  by  few  he  died  at  the  early  age  of*38. 


44  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


-  XV  - 

The  establishment  of  a  Federal  government  followed 
the  successful  termination'Of  the  American  Revolution. 
The  relations  between  the  newly-organized  government 

and  the  Spanish  author- 


Sale of 
a  province* 


ities  of  Louisiana  were 
by  no  means  harmonious. 
The  boundary  line  be- 
tween Florida  and  what  was  then  the  western  portion  of 
the  United  States  was  in  dispute.  The  Spanish  author- 
ities endeavored  to  alienate  the  settlers  of  the  Ohio  valley 
from  the  Federal  Union  and  bring  about  if  possible  an 
annexation  of  territory.  The  produce  of  these  western 
settlers  could  only  reach  a  profitable  market  by  way  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  mouth  of  this  river  being  under 
Spanish  control,  American  commerce'was  prohibited  or 
conceded  in  a  manner  somewhat  arbitrary  and  alto- 
gather  unsatisfactory  to  those  who  depended  for  their 
material  prosperity  upon  the  free  navigation  of  this  river 
Thus  it  was  that  the  United  States  was  called  upon 
to  take  steps  towards  the  securing  of  a  commercial  depot 
near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  to  this  end  commission- 
ers were  dispatched  to  Europe,  and  negotiations  were 
opened  with  a  view  to  purchasing  a  portion  of  the  Isle 
of  Orleans. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  45 

By  this  time  Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  the  most  con- 
spicuous figure  in  Europe,  .and  in  the  moves  upon  the 
chess-board  of  European  politics,  Spain  was  compelled  to 
retrocede  Louisiana  to  France,  which  was  done  by  the 
treaty  of  Ildefonso.59  For  a  time  the  fact  of  the  treaty 
was  kept  secret,  but  the  American  commissioners  soon 
learned  that  it  was  with  France  and  not  Spain  with 
which  they  had  to  deal. 

Negotiations  were 'therefore  opened  and  the  Ameri- 
cans were  soon  surprised  to  ascertain  that  Napoleon  was 
not  only  willing  to  dispose  of  the  Isle  of  Orleans  but  of 
the  whole  of  Louisiana.  He  was  in  need  of  resources  to 
carry  out  his  warlike  undertakings,  and  he  understood 
that  it  would  be  well  nigh  impossible  for  France  to  hold 
the  province  against  foreign  invasion. 

Of  the  tremendous  responsibility  assumed  by  the 
plucky  and  struggling  young  American  republic,  and  of 
the  nerve  displayed  by  President  Jefferson  in  closing 
promptly  with  Napoleon's  offer,  the  political  history  fo 
the  United  States  gives  full  account.  The  sale  was 
closed.60  Livingstone  and  Monroe  acted  for  the  Ameri- 
cans and  Marbois  for  the  French.  The  consideration 
was  eighty  million  francs,  sixty  millions  of  which  was  to 
go  to  France  and  twenty  million  to  liquidate  the  spoli- 
ation claims  which  citizens  of  the  United  States  held 
against  France  lor  the  illegal  destruction  of  shipping 
during  the  "quasi  French  War."61 

591801.  601803.  611798. 


46  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

No  event  in  American  history  is  fraught  with  greater 
importance  than  the  purchase  of  Louisiana.  From  the 
day  of  its  purchase  the  United  States  assumed 
a  position  among  the  nations  of  the  world.  No  larger 
area  of  territory  has  ever  been  formally  ceded  by  one 
country  to  another.  Without  including  what  is  now 
Texas,  claim  to  which  was  at  one  time  advanced  as  con- 
stituting a  part  of  the  cession,  the  territory  embraced 
an  area  of  1,182,745  square  miles. 

From  it  have  been  carved  the  states  of  Louisiana, 
Arkansas,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Minnesota, 
Colorada,  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota,  Montana,  Idaho, 
Wyoming,  Oregon,  and  Washington ;  and  there  still 
remains  a  goodly  portion  of  it  from  which  to  form  other 
states.  Shortly  after  the  purchase  an- expedition  headed 
by  Lewis  and  Clarke  explored  the  territory  to  its  wester- 
most  limits. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  47 


H 


Hmerican  State* 


XVI 

The  retrocession  of  Louisiana  to  France  had  been 
made  in  1801,  yet,  as  no  formal  transfer  had  occurred,  the 
Spanish  governor  held  over  until  1803.  To  consummate 

the  sale  to  the  United 
States,  Pierre  Clement 
Laussat  as  representa- 
tive of  France  received 
the  province  from  Governor  Salcedo62  and  twenty  days 
afterwards63  turned  it  over  to  Gen.  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne, 
governor  of  the  neighboring  Territory  of  Mississippi,  who 
was  commissioned  to  receive  it. 

In  the  transfer  thus  made  that  portion  of  the  present 
State  of  Louisiana  lying  north  of  Lakes  Maurepas,  Pont- 
chartrain,  and  Borgne  was  not  included,  it  being  the  riro- 
vince  of  West  Florida  and  at  the  time  still  in  Spanish 
possession.  The  manner  in  which  it  came  to  be  a  part  of 
the  Union  forms  a  most  interesting  episode. 

Florida  while  an  English  posession  had  been  divided 
into  East  and  West  Florida,  the  Chattahoochee  river 
forming  the  boundary  between  the  divisions.  With  the 
garrisoning  of  the  West  Florida  posts  by  English  troops 
a  few  English  settlers  made  their  way  into  the  district. 
The  conquest  by  Spaniards  under  Galvez  did  not  check 

62  Nov.  30.  1803.  63  Dec.  30,  1803. 


48  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

altogether  this  English  immigration  from  that  older 
c  >lonies;  and  when  in  time  the  neighboring  territory  of 
Mississippi  was  organized  and  an  influx  of  pioneers  and 
settlers  took  place,  there  were  many  who,  attracted  by  the 
fertile  region  around  Baton  Eouge  manifested  little 
unwillingness  in  placing  themselves  under  a  foreign 
j  urisdiction  by  crossing  the  boundary  line.  This  line 
had  been  fixed  by  treaty64  as  the  thirty-first  parallel  of 
latitude. 

These  new-comers  brought  with  them  into  West 
Florida  the  Anglo-Saxon  spirit  of  independence  which 
was  not  long  in  manifesting  itself.  In  1810— seven  years 
after  the  Louisiana  purchase — a  well  planned  revolt  was 
successfully  instituted  against  the  Spanish  authorities. 
A  convention  presided  over  by  John  Ehea  was  called 
together,  a  declaration  of  independence  issued,  a  provis- 
ional government  instituted  with  Fulwar  Skipwith  as 
governor,  and  a  little  army  under  Gen.  Philemon  Thomas 
organized. 

This  force  overthrew  the  Spanish  garrison  at  Baton 
Rouge  and  by  this  victory  wrested  that  portion  of  West 
Florida  west  of  the  Pearl  river  from  Spain.  Application 
was  made  for  admission  into  the  Union  as  an  independent 
state.  Instead  of  being  admitted  it  was  annexed. 
Madison  who  was  then  president  issued  his  proclamation 
declaring  West  Florida  under  Federal  jurisdiction,  Oct. 

64  1795. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY. 


49 


27th,  1810.  Governor  Claiborne  marched  into  the 
territory  and  at  St.  Francisville  in  what  is  now  West 
Feliciana  parish  he  raised  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  short-lived  little  republic  came  to  an  untimely 
end.  In  time  the  annexed  territory  was  divided  into  six 
parishes  which  to  this  day  are  known  as  the  Florida 
parishes. 


50  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


XVII 

Shortly  after  its  purchase  the  province  acquired  by 
the  United  States  from  France  was  divided  into  the  Terri- 
tory of  Orleans  and  the  District  of  Louisiana,65  the 

former  conform  ing  in  its 


BattlC  Of  i     boundaries  to  the  present 


©rlcan0   I  state  of  Louisiana. 

borne  was  appointed  the 


territorial  governor  and  served  as  such  until  1812  when 
the  territory  having  adopted  a  constitution86  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  state67.  Under  the  constitution  Claiborne 
was  elected  the  first  governor  of  the  State  serving  until 
1816. 

Meanwhile  the  Federal  Union  of  which  Louisiana 
was  now  a  part  had  become  involved  in  a  war  with  Great 
Britain.68  Most  of  the  active  engagements  of  this  war 
took  place  either  upon  the  high  seas  or  upon  the  Canadian 
frontier.  It  is  no  boast  however  to  say  that  the  most 
important  event  of  this  war  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  achievements  of  American  arm?  chronicled 
in  history,  took  place  and  was  won  upon  Louisiana  soil. 

British  veterans  from  European  battlefields,  in  the 
full  flush  of  victory  were  dispatched  to  America  towards 

es  March  26, 1804.  ee  Jan.  33, 1812. 

67  April  8,  1812.  68  The  War  of  1812. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  51 

the  latter  part  of  the  war  referred  to.  A  systematic  pil- 
laging of  the  coast  cities  of  the  United  States  was 
begun.  Washington  city  was  captured  and  treated  by 
the  soldiers  of  a  civilized  country  in  a  manner  that  better 
became  the  Vandals  of  Medieval  times.  Baltimore  nar- 
rowly escaped  a  similar  fate.  New  Orleans  came  in  for 
a  full  share  of  attention. 

General  Andrew  Jackson  had  been  entrusted  with  the 
supervision  of  military  matters  in  the  south.  Any  refer- 
ence to  his  name  calls  up  the  image  of  a  man  of  indomi- 
table will  and  unyielding  courage.  When  the  Creek 
Indians  of  Alabama  inspired  by  Tecumseh,  the  ally  of 
England,  instituted  the  uprising  whose  saddest  feature 
was  the  massacre  of  four  hundred  whites  at  Fort  Mims 
near  Mobile,  Jackson  marched  into  the  country  of  the 
hostilesand  promptly  administered  the  crushing  defeats 
of  Eccacanacaha,  Talladega,  Emucfaw,  and  Tchopeka 
or  Horse  Shoe  Bend,  teaching  them  a  terrible  lesson  of 
the  vengeance  and  power  of  the  whites. 

When  it  was  learned  that  the  Spaniards  of  Pensacola 
were  giving  aid  and  encouragement  to  the  British,  Jack- 
son with  no  authority  save  his-  own  determination 
marched  upon  the  town,  and  compelled  the  British  to 
vacate  the  shelter  and  refuge  that  the  Spaniards  had  ex- 
tended to  them. 

Advised  that  New  Orleans  had  been  selected  as  a 
point  of  attack,  he  hastened  to  the  defense  of  the  city. 


52  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

He  was  joined  by  riflemen  from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
and  the  Creoles  of  Louisiana  promptly  rallied  to  his  assis- 
tance and  joined  in  the  work  of  defense.  Forts  were 
constructed  to  oppose  the  enemy's  advance  by  river. 
The  advance,  however  was  made  by  way  of  the  lakes, 
back  of  the  city.  Fortifications  were  therefore  thrown 
up  on  the  plains  of  Chal me tte  just  beyond  the  suburbs 
and  Jackson  soon  had  everything  in  readiness  for  the 
coming  attack. 

Eight  here  comes  into  prominence  one  of  the  most 
romantic  figures  in  Louisiana  history.  In  the  southern 
part  of  the  state  is  to  be  found  a  bay  called  Barataria. 
Along  the  shores  of  this  bay  dwelt  a  people  in  a  state  of 
partial  outlawry  addicted  to  smuggling  and  other  ques- 
tionable practices.  Their  leader  was  a  man  of  great  dar- 
ing named  Lafitte,  "who  though  outlawed  by  his  country 
could  not  turn  against  her.  Tempting  bribes  of  money 
and  high  position  in  the  English  navy  were  held  out  to 
him  by  the  British  if  he  would  co-operate  with  them  in 
the  attack  upon  New  Orleans.  These  he  promptly 
refused,  and  instead  tendered  the  services  of  his  men  to 
Jackson.  The  American  commander  accepted  them 
with  out  question.  For  their  gallant  conduct  in  the  bat- 
tle which  ensued  the  United  States  government  subse- 
quently offered  a  full  pardon  to  such  of  them  as  would 
settle  down  into  law  abiding  citizens,  which  many  of 
them  did. 

The    British    army   led    by    Pakenham     advanced 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY.  53 

through  the  swamp  and  appeared  before  the  fortification 
of  the  Americans.  Of  the  memorable  engagement  which 
followed  much  has  been  written.  The  defenders  were  cool 
and  determined;  the  attacking  army  were  steady  and 
experienced  veterans.  The  battle  raged  all  day,69  with 
the  result  that  the  enemy  were  driven  back  with  terrible 
slaughter.  Two  thousand  of  their  troops  were  killed  and 
disabled,  Pakenham  himself  being  of  the  number  slain. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  but  eight.  The  saddest 
feature  about  the  event  was  the  fact  that  the  terrible 
bloodshed  was  useless  as  the  treaty  of  peace  had  been 
concluded  some  days  before.70  The  telegraph  had  not 
been  invented  and  news  travelled  slowly  in  those  days. 
Before  the  intelligence  of  the  treaty  reached  America 
the  most  decisive  battle  of  the  whole  war  had  been 
fought  and  won. 

6»  Jan.  8,  1815  ro  Dec.  24,  1814 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


XVIII 

In  depicting  the  history  of  Louisiana  from  its  attain- 
ment to  statehood  to  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  in  an 
article  as  brief  as  this  must  be  only  a  few  hasty  lines  can 

I  be  sketched.  The  growth 

Bnte^BellUm  of  population     and    the 

Xouieiana*  I  devel°pment    of    the 

agricultural       resources 


under  what  has  been  termed  the  American  domination 
steadily  advanced.  Originally  peopled  as  we  have  seen, 
by  French  and  Canadians,  there  were  added  in  the 
course  of  time  with  little  blending  of  races,  Spaniards, 
Acadians,  San  Domingo  refugees,  Canary  Islanders,  and 
enterprising  and  adventure  loving  Americans. 

The  peopling  of  the  western  states  gave  rise  to  a  com- 
mercial intercourse  between  the  peoples  of  the  northern 
and  southern  portions  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  the 
American  immigration  which  drifted  down  the  river 
attained  considerable  propm-l  ions.  The  purchase  of  the 
province  had  removed  the  barrier  that  had  checked  the 
instinctive  flow  of  American  population  due  west,  so  that 
the  state  soon  admitted  of  two  distinct  divisions.  The 
Creoles  and  other  descendants  of  Latin  races  predomi- 
nated in  the  southern  portion,  and  here  foreign  tongues 
were  heard.  In  the  northern  portion  of  the  state  a  hardy 
enterprising  race  that  had  migrated  from  South  Carol:- 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  55 

na,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  other  states  to  the  eastward 
found  permanent  abode.  Both  embodied  valuable  quali- 
ties, and  if  the  racial^  nstincts  already  implanted  bear 
their  natural  fruit,  we  may  anticipate  in  the  coming 
generations  of  Louisianians  all  the  wit  and  fire  of  the 
Latins  as  well  as  all  the  sturdiness  and  independence 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon. 

In  the  period  alluded  to  the  history  of  Louisiana 
touches  affairs  of  national  importance  at  few  points. 
When  Florida  was  purchased  by  the  United  States,  the 
treaty  of  cession  also  determined  the  Sabine  river  as  the 
boundary  line  between  Louisiana  and  the  Spanish  terri- 
tory of  Texas.71  To  defray  her  part  of  the  expense  incurr- 
ed by  the  war  with  the  Seminole  Indians  of  Florida,  the 
state  appropriated  $75,000.  In  the  efforts  of  Texas  to 
secure  independance  the  men  who  fought  under  the  ban- 
ner of  the  Lone  Star72  had  the  full  sympathy  of  Louisian- 
ians, and  many  were  the  accessions  to  their  rank  supplied 
by  the  Creole  state.  When  the  admission  of  Texas  into 
the  Union  incurred  the  enmity  of  Mexico,  it  was  Louis- 
iana who  sent  her  sons  equipped  at  her  own  expense  to 
the  field  long  before  the  general  government  responded 
to  the  cry  for  succor. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  with  Mexico  the  sol- 
diers furnished  by  the  State  attained  marked  distinction 
in  the  armies  of  both  Scott  and  Taylor;  and  one  of  her 

7H819.  721836. 


56  AN  INTBORUCTION  TO 

volunteers  Gen.  Persiier  F.  Smith,  rose  by  brevet  to  tlie 
rank  of  Brigadier  in  the  regular  army. 

The  governors  who  served  during  this  period  are; 
W.  C.  C.  Claiborne,  1812-1816;  James  Villere,  1816-1820; 
Thos.  B  Kobertson'  and  H.  S.  Thibodaux,  (acting),  1820- 
1824;  Henry  Johnson  1824-29 ; Peter  Derbigny,  A.  Beauvais, 
and  Jacques  Dupre  (the  last  two  acting,  owing  to  the 
death  of  the  first  named),  A.  B.  Koman,  1831-1835;  E.  D. 
White,  1835-1839  A.  B.  Roman,  1839-1843;  Alex.  Mouton, 
] 843-1846;  Isaac  Johnson,  1846-1850!  Joseph  Walker,  1850- 
1853;  Paul  O.  Hebert  1853-1856;  Robt.  C.  Wickliffe,  1856- 
1860;  Thos.  O.  Moore,  1860-1862,  (occupation  of  Louisiana 
by-  the  Federals). 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  57 


XIX 


The  years  following1  the  Mexican  war  were  years  lead- 
ing up  to  a  crisis  in  American  affairs.  The  year  1861 
ushered  in  a  conflict  among  the  most  terrible  of  history, 

— a  conflict  in  which 

wit   I  DC    ?OIOC  |    American    was    arrayed 

Of    th£    (Sr&Y)        I    a^a^ns^  American,  both 

I    contending  for  American 


principles,   and  each  side  deeming  itself  in  the  right. 

The  South  mantained  the  principles  of  local  self-gov- 
ernment and  State  sovereignty, — principles  that  gener- 
ally prevailed  when  the  Federal  government  was  first 
instituted.  The  North  stood  by  the  later  evolved  prin- 
ciple of  Union.  Contrary  to  what  many  writers  have 
given  the  cause  of  the  war  was  not  the  high  moral  pur- 
pose to  right  the  so-called  wrong  of  slavery,  but  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union. 

The  South  being  an  agricultural  community,  its 
interests  were  not  at  all  times  identical  with  those  of 
the  manufacturing  North.  The  tariff  upon  which  the 
North  thrived  was  thoroughly  distasteful  to  the  South, 
becoming  the  disturbing  element  which  led  up  to  the  nul- 
lification controversy.73  The  welfare  of  the  South  was 
bound  up  in  its  labor  system.  The  institution  of  slavery 

73   1832-3. 


58  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

peculiar  to  the  section  was  recognized  by  the  constitution 
under  which  the  Union  was  formed.  When  this  institution 
became  the  point  of  attack  of  a  rapidly  growing  political 
party,  property  rights,  in  the  opinion  of  the  South,  were 
threatened,  and  the  constitutional  compact  in  danger  of 
being  violated.  Antagonisms  developed  rapidly.  Seces- 
sion was  resorted  to.  The  war  was  waged  on  the  one  side 
for  Southern  independence,  on  the  other,  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union.  The  slavery  question  was  inciden- 
tal to  that  antagonistic  development  which  drove  brother 
to  contend  against  brother  in  fratricidal  strife. 

The  crossing  of  the  currents  of  immigration,  one 
southward  from  the  north-western  states,  the  other  east- 
ward from  the  south  Atlantic  states,  accounts  for  the  di- 
vergence of  opinion  that  existed  in  Louisiana  in  regard  to 
Secession.  There,  were  many  strong  Union  men  in  the 
state  who  raised  their  voices  in  opposition.  But  the  Sta- 
tes-rights element  prevailed,  and  Louisiana  was  the  sixth 
state  to  pass  theordinance  of  secession.74  When  however, 
it  became  manifest  that  secession  was  to  be  followed  by 
war,  both  unionists  and  secessionists  united  in  defense 
of  the  cause  to  which  their  state  had  committed  itself. 

In  "the  time  that  tried  men's  souls"  Louisiana  did 
her  full  duty.  Her  sons  donned  the  gray  and  marched 
away  to  the  battle  fields  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  bore 
their  share  in  victory  and  defeat  with  courage  in  the  one 

74  January  26,  1861. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  59 

and  fortitude  in  the  other  as  become  honorable  men.  Of 
the  six  full  generals  in  the  Confederate  States'  armies, 
Louisiana  furnished  two,— Bragg  and  Beauregard.  Thir- 
ty-six regiments  besides  eight  battalions  went  from  her 
peaceful  hills  and  prairies  to  battle  for  the  cause  which 
bravery  though  unsurpassable  could  never  win  unaided 
by  the  material  resources  which  sustain  invincible  armies. 
No  word  of  mouth  or  pen  is  needed  to  tell  of  the  courage 
and  heroism  of  these  men.  Let  the  deeds  of  Jackson's 
"foot  cavalry" — mostly  Louisianians — in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  the  record  of  the  Washington  Artillery,  Tenner's 
Battery,  Gibson's  Brigade,  the  Louisiana  "Tigers",  and 
other  commands  bear  testimoy.  And  oh  the  energizing 
influence  that  love  of  one's  state  brings  to  bear,  that 
could  woo  the  gentle  Acadian  from  pastoral  scenes  of  his 
Attakapas  home  and  transform  him  into  the  dashing 
debonair  warrior  equally  ready  to  fight  to  the  death  for  his 
"belle  I/oumcme,"ordance  with  patois-speaking  comrades 
during  the  lull  of  battle,  to  the  old  familiar  home- 
reminding  tunes  of  his  regimental  band. 

The  promptness  with  which  Louisiana  responded 
to  the  call  for  men  and  means  left  her  with  inadequate 
defense  against  the  invading  Federal  forces.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  war  New  Orleans  through  the  gallantry  of 
ComodoreFarragut,  was  taken  by  the  Union  forces75  and 
subjected  to  the  rigors  of  military  rule.  The  fall  of  Port 

75  January,  1862. 


60  AN  1NTEODUCT1ON  TO 

Hudson  shortly  followed.  The  attempts  of  the  Federals 
to  overrun  the  state  led  to  the  Eed  river  Expedition, 
during  which  the  Federal  General  Banks  suffered  reverses 
at  the  hands  of  Gen"Dick"  Taylor  at  the  battles  of  Mans- 
field7 6asd  Pleasant  Hill77. 

The  surrender  of  General  Lee  at  Appomatox  termi- 
nated the  war.  The  men  of  the  southern  armies 
returned  to  their  homes  and  with  the  same  courage  with 
which  they  met  their  foes  upon  the  battlefield  faced  the 
new  conditons  with  which  they  were  confronted.  Defeat 
must  ever  have  its  compensations.  The  South  is  profit- 
ting  most  by  the  last  war  because  she  suffered  most.  Her 
sons,  strong  armed  and  full  handed  are  still  waging 
her  battles,  but  now  they  are  the  battles  of  peace,  and 
the  victories  won  are  the  victories  of  industrial  pros- 
perity. In  the  march  of  progress  that  has  been  sounded 
from  one  end  of  the  American  continent  to  the  other 
Louisiana  will  prove  herself  no  laggard. 

76   Aprils,  1864.  "   April  9, 1864. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  61 


XX 

The  South  to-day  joins  with  the  North  in  yielding 
full  tribute  of  admiration  to  the  character  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  His  death  was  a  calamity  in  more  senses  than 

one'  His  election  had 
jeopardized  the  Union 
through  no  fault  of  his 


at  tbe  feet 


of  1benn> 

own,  and  throughout  the 


war  it  was  his  insistf  ul  purpose  to  restore  this  Union 
and  strengthen  it  for  all  time.  Never  considering  the 
South  as  out  of  the  Union,  peace  meant  to  him  but  the 
laying  down  of  arms  and  recognition  of  the  authority  of 
the  United  States.  The  humanitarian  in  him  dictated 
the  policy  of  restoration.  His  unfortunate  death  sus- 
pended t  his  policy  and  substituted  one  of  reconstruction 
according  to  which  the  South  was  treated  as  conquered 
provinces  to  be  dictated  to,  to  be  subjected  to  military 
alien,  and  other  despotisms,  to  be  divested  of  all  those 
rights  that  to  Anglo-Saxons  wherever  found  are  most 
dear. 

Dark  indeed  is  the  least  harrowing  picture  that  can 
be  drawn  of  the  reconstruction  era.  An  ignorant  race 
was  suddenly  invested  with  the  franchise,  and  it  was 
sought  to  force  unnatural  political  relations  into 
existence.  The  negro  through  no  effort  of  his  own  was 


62  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

rais3d  to  that  peerage  which  the  white  man  had.  obtained 
only  after  centuries  of  civilization  and  after  years  of 
struggle,  of  privation,  of  heroism,  and  of  sacrifice  upon 
the  battlefields  of  the  American  Revolution. 

The  armies  of  the  North  had  come  and  gone,  but  the 
hangers-on  that  flock  like  wolves  and  vultures  in  the  rear 
of  advancing  hosts  remained.  The  curse  of  the  carpet- 
bagger was  felt  in  the  land.  The  disfranchisement  of 
the  whites,  and  the  elevation  of  the  ignorant  easily- 
manipulated  blacks  to  citizenship  gave  control  to  those 
whose  creed  was  extortion,  whose  highest  gratification 
was  the  despoiling  of  the  helpless,  whose  exultation  was 
that  of  the  successful  thug  and  blackmailer  proportional, 
however,  to  the  magnitude  of  their  crime  inasmuch  as 
their  hands  were  at  the  throat  of  a  sovereign  State  and  a 
helpless  commonwealth  was  their  victim. 

What  Louisiana  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  corrupt- 
ion! sts  may  best  be  expressed  in  figures.  In  one  year  of 
carpet-bag  rule,  $2,278,915  taxes  were  collected.  To-day 
the  state  levies  hardly  a  million.  For  collecting  these 
taxes  office-holders  retained  as  their  fees,  $493,324,  or  a 
commission  of  12fg  percent.  In  one  year,78  the  legisla- 
tive expenses  for  a  short  session  were  $626, 000  or  $6, 150  for 
each  member  of  the  legislature.  In  four  and  one  half 
years,79  the  expenditures  of  the  government  amounted  to 
$26,394,578,  and  in  two  years80  the  bonded  debt  of  the 

78   1871.  79   1868-72.  so   1868-70. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  63 

state  increased  from  $6,000,000.  to  $25,021,000.  The  cost 
to  the  state  for  four  years  of  this  misrule  amounted  to 
the  sum  of  $106,020,337. 

Crushed  by  their  late  defeat  the  best  people  of  Louis- 
iana could  interpose  or  organize  little  opposition. 
Appeals  to  the  ballot-box  counted  as  naught.  Either 
the  right  to  vote  was  denied  them,  or  their  ballots  were 
nullified  by  Returning  Boards  whose  personnel  was  of- 
ten of  a  most  villainous  character.  For  the  natural  guard- 
ians of  the  State's  welfare  there  were  none  of  the  fruits 
of  political  victory,  for  when  they  endeavored  to  install 
their  duly  and  legally  elected  state  officers  they  found 
ursurpers  backed  by  Federal  bayonets  barring  the  way. 

What  wonder  was  it  then,  that  a  "White  League" 
organization  for  mutual  protection  and  for  the  rescue  of 
the  State,  was  called  into  existence.  Men  were  found 
willing  to  take  their  lives  in  their  hand  and  stand  up  for 
the  principle  of  self-government.  There  came  a  time 
when  the  people  could  no  longer  submit  to  extortion  and 
to  infringements  upon  constitutional  liberty.  They 
refused  to  pay  the  taxes.  Severer  laws  were  passed  and 
to  enforce  these  tyrannous  measures  a  body  of  military 
or  Metropolitan  police  were  mustered  into  service  and 
placed  under  the  immediate  control  of  the  governor,  to 
be  dispatched  to  any 'and  all  portions  of  the  State  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  his  imperious  decrees,  and  to 
serve  as  convenient  instruments  of  intimidation.  Human 


64  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

nature  could  stand  no  more,  and  one  fair  day  the  people 
of  New  Orleans  were  called  to  assemble  in  mass  meeting 
at  the  Clay  monument. 

There  is  another  historic  spot  in  New  Orleans  in 
front  of  the  City  Hall,  known  as  Lafayette  Square,  where 
the  people  often  assemble  to  listen  to  political  harangues. 
When  the  people  of  New  Orleans  gather  in  Lafayette 
Square,  they  gather  to  talk.  When  they  gather  at  the 
feet  of  Henry  Clay  they  gather  to  act.  In  a  number  of 
instances  riot  unknown  to  the  country  at  large  the  truth 
of  this  statement  has  been  so  exemplified  as  to  make  it 
axiomatic. 

What  was  done  upon  this  occasion  is  known  to  all. 
Earnest  speakers  addressed  the  assembly.  Grim  determi- 
nation steeled  the  hearts  of  every  one  within  the  sound 
of  their  voices.  Immediately  there  was  an  arming  of  the 
citizens,  a  forming  of  companies,  an  uprising  —  not  of  an 
uncontrolled  mob  but  of  earnest  men  whose  part  in  the  re- 
establishment  of  free  government  was  as  heroically  played 
as  was  the  part  performed  by  any  revolutionary  patriot 
when  the  right  of  this  free  goverment  was  won. 

A  battle  took  place  at  the  head  of  Canal  Street  between 
the  citizens  and  the  Metropolitans,  the  latter  heavily 
armed,  and  fully  equipped  with  Gatling  guns.  The  hire- 
lings were  scattered  in  every  direction.  Eleven  of  the 
citizens  were  slain  in  the  action.  No  more  memorable  a 
day  is  to  be  found  in  the  annals  of  Louisiana  than 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  65 

Sept.  14, 1874,  and  no  more  sacred  a  spot  can  be  pointed 
out  in  the  city  famous  for  its  historic  memories  than 
Liberty  Place  where  these  martyrs  fell. 

In  twenty-four  hours  the  usurping  government  was 
swept  away,  and  the  rightful  authorities  installed.  But 
n^t  for  long  were  the  citizens  to  behold  the  successful 
culmination  of  their  sacrifice  and  effort.  The  military 
authorities  of  the  Federal  government  interposed,  and 
the  deposed  State  officials  were  reinstated.  But  the 
cause  for  which  the  citizens  contended  was  not  lost.  The 
attention  of  other  states  was  attracted  to  their  suffering 
sister;  and  when  two  years  afteward  Francis  T.  Mcholls, 
one  of  the  bravest  of  Louisiana's  many  brave  soldiers, 
was  elected81  the  rightful  governor  of  the  state,  and  ex- 
pressed his  quiet  determination  to  be  installed,  Federal 
bayonets  were  withheld  and  with  the  withholding  the 
hopes  of  the  Returning  Board  claimant  faded  away  and 
carpet-baggery  was  at  an  end. 

si   1876. 


PART  II. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  69 


(Bcograpb? 
of  tbe  State* 


We  have  seen  that  the  term,  Louisiana  at  one  time  em- 
braced the  whole  region  watered  by  the  Mississippi  and 
its  tributaries;  and  that  by  the  several  territorial  changes 

touched  upon  it  has  been 
narrowed  down  to  its 
present  limits.  The 
State  as  it  exists  to-day 
occupies  an  area  of  45,  420  square  miles.  Its  Northern 
boundary  line  coincides  with  the  33rd  parallel  of  North 
latitude.  The  Mississippi  river  formes  its  eastern  boun- 
dary as  far  as  the  31st  parallel  which  line  serves  as 
a  boundary  as  far  east  as  the  Pearl  river.  The  Gulf  of 
Mexico  so  blends  with  the  southern  limits  of  the  state  as 
to  form  a  considerable  area  of  marsh  indented  by  numer- 
ous lagoons  and  navigable  bays  and  inlets.  Westward 
the  state  extends  as  far  as  the  Sabine  river  whose  main 
channel  serves  as  the  western  boundary  from  the  gulf 
northward  as  far  as  parallel  32,  from  which  point  the 
western  boundary  is  completed  by  a  line  drawn  due  north. 
Geographically  considered,  Louisiana  occupies  a 
unique  position  among  the  states  of  the  union.  It  is  the 
"Delta  State."  A  large  portion  of  its  area  has  been  built 
up  by  the  alluvial  deposits  of  the  Mississippi  which  for 
hundreds  of  years  has  been  bringing  down  the  soluble 


70  AN  INTEOEUCTION  TO 

riches  of  the  valley  above.  This  fa  ;t  has  never  been 
more  interestingly  quoted  than  it  has  in  an  anecdote  told 
of  one  of  Louisiana's  reconstruction  governors, — a  man  to 
whom  the  reproach  of  political  adventurer  was  at  one 
time  applied,  but  who  has  since  identified  himself  with 
the  industrial  interests  of  the  State.  In  his  native 
State,  Illinois,  his  father's  farm  fronted  upon  the  Miss- 
issippi. At  one  time  during  his  boyhood  a  goodly  portion 
of  this  farm  crumbled  into  the  river  and,  according  to  his 
account,  he  formed  the  determination  of  following  the 
vanished  real  estate  down  stream,  which  he  did  when  he 
became  a  man.  He  could  not  in  justice  be  called  a  carpet- 
bagger or  adventurer.  He  had  simply  come  to  Louisiana 
to  claim  his  own.  How  well  he  succeeded  in  finding  his 
missing  property  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  now 
owns  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  well  managed  sugar 
plantations  on  the  river.  The  conditions  in  Louisiana, 
climatic  and  otherwise,  are  conducive  therefore  to  a  won- 
derful productivness,  and  the  magic  virtues  that  can 
transform  a  modest  little  Illinois  farm  into  a  quarter  mil- 
lion dolJar  Louisiana  plantation  may  well  be  regarded 
with  envy  by  less  favored  communities.  Of  course  the 
fact  that  the  possessor  thereof  served  incidentally  as  gov- 
ernor of  the  State  during  four  years  of  his  search  need 
not  be  taken  into  consideration. 

Louisiana  possesses  more  miles  of  navigable  streams 
than  any  other  State  of  the  Union.    In  an  area  embrac- 


LOUISIANA  HISTOBY.  71 

ing  two-thirds  of  its  territory  no  point  is  to  be  found 
further  away  from  a  navigable  stream  than  twenty 
miles.  The  last  three  hundred  miles  of  the  Mississippi's 
course  lies  wholly  within  its  borders.  Red  river  runs 
through  the  central  portion,  and  is  parti ularly  valuable 
as  a  means  of  communication  between  remote  parts. 
The  Ouachita,  rising  in  Arkansas,  is  navigable  from  its 
mouth  to  a  point  beyond  the  boundary  line. 

Many  of  the  Louisiana  streams  instead  of  flowing 
into  larger  rivers  as  branches  ordinarily  do,  flow  out  of 
them.  These  generally  go  by  the  name  of  Bayous. 
Atchaf alaya,  Plaquemines,  and  Lafourche  are  streams  of 
this  character.  Among  the  rivers  and  bayous  of  the 
state  that  are  more  or  less  navigable  should  be 
included,  Courtableau,  Teche,  Boeuf,  Cypremort,  Coco- 
drie,  Macon,  Tensas,  DeGlaize,  Des  Allemandes,  Tangi- 
pahoa,  Tchefuncta,  Amite,  Calcasieu,  Cane,  Sabine,  Ver- 
million  and  Lacomb. 

The  population  of  Louisiana  numbers  1,118,587.  The 
state  is  divided  into  fifty-nine  parishes,— a  parish  cor- 
responding to  a  county  in  other  states.  New  Orleans, 
the  largest  city,  contains  a  population  of  260,000  and  is 
the  only  city  of  the  first  rank  south  of  the  Ohio  river. 
Shreveport  on  the  Red  river  in  the  north-western  portion 
of  the  state  is  the  second;largest  and  has  a  population  of 
11,979.  Baton  Rouge,  the  capital,  with  a  population  of 
10,478  ranks  third.  Other  important  centers  of  popula- 


72  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

tion  are,  New  Iberia,  Lake  Charles,  Franklin,  Morgan 
City,  Lafayette,  Donaldsonville,  and  Thibodaux,  in  the 
southern  part,  Alexandria  and  Natchitoches  in  the  cen- 
tral, and  Monroe,  Bastrop,  Minden,  and  Homer  in  the 
northern. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  73 


II 


Industrially  considered  Louisiana  occupies  as 
unique  a  position  as  it  does  geographically.  Of  all  the 
agricultural  states  of  the  union  it  alone  can  boast  of 

soil,   climate  and  condi- 


flntmetriee 


of  tbe  State. 


tion  adapted  to  the 
production  of  three 
profitable  agricultural 
staples.  It  contributes  annually  more  than  a  half  mil- 
lion bales  to  the  world's  supply  of  cotton.  In  the  pro- 
ducing and  milling  of  rice  50,000  people  and  more  than 
$9,000,000  capital  are  employed  the  yield  of  its  15000  rice 
plantations  amounting  in  1890  to  the  enormous  figures  of 
120,000,000  Ibs. 

But  it  is  chiefly  as  a-  sugar  producing  state  that 
Louisiana  is  known.  The  culture  of  the  sugar  cane  was 
i  ntroduced  from  the  West  Indies  at  a  very  early  day. 
It  was  some  time  however  before  a  profitable  method  of 
crystallizing  the  juice  into  an  article  of  commerce  was 
discovered.  To  Etienne  de  Bore'  is  due  the  credit  of  the 
discovery,  and  the  credit  is  augmented  by  the  fact  that 
his  experiments  were  conducted  with  the  persistency  of 
an  enthusiast  and  with  a  courage  that  faced  unflinchingly 
poverty  and  financial  disaster  in  the  event  of  failure. 

Bore's  first  crop  netted  him  the  handsome  return  of 
$12,000  a  sum  large  enough  in  those  days  to  transform  the 


74  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

modest  cultivator  of  indigo  into  a  man  of  position  and 
affluence.  The  sugar  industry  spread  rapidly.  The  rich 
lands  along1  the  Louisiana  streams  wsre  laid  out  into 
broad  estates  upon  which  was  developed  that  peculiar 
blending  of  farm  and  factory  work  characteristic  of 
typical  Louisiana  rural  life. 

The  sugar  industry  has  been  largely  fostered  and 
encouraged  by  revenue  tariffs  upon  the  imported  article. 
The  bounty  system  that  up  to  recently  was  in  affect 
gave  it  a  fresh  impluse.  More  than  $90,000,000  are  invest- 
ed in  sugar  plantations  and  mills.  In  1890  production 
reached  330,000  hogshead  of  sugar  and  500,000barrels  of 
molasses,  the  value  of  which  was  more  than$25,000,000. 

In  recent  years  the  tendency  seems  to  be  to  separate 
the  agricultural  from  the  manufacturing  features  of  the 
industry.  Central  sugar  refineries  are  being  erected  at 
suitable  points  and  these  will  contract  to  be  furnished 
with  cane  at  so  much  a  ton.  Under  the  old  system  it 
required  a  large  amount  of  capital  to  embark  in  the  rais- 
ing of  sugar.  In  addition  to  lands,  livestock,  implements 
wages  and  dwellings  for  the  laborers,  the  sugar  mill  of  a 
plantation  necessitated  an  ontlay  in  some  cases  as  high  as 
$100,000.  During  nine  months  of  the  year  this  mill 
remained  idle.  Under  the  new  arrangement  cane  cul- 
ture can  be  undertaken  by  the  small  farmer  as  easily  as 
any  other  crop,  and  much  more  profitably.  The  yield  per 
acre  with  ordinary  care  reaches  thirty  tons,  which  com- 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  75 

mands  at  the  mill  $3.50  or  $4.00  per  ton.  During  the  grind- 
ing season  tlie  cane  can  be  converted  into  syrup  and  put 
aside  in  quantities  sufficient  to  supply  the  mill  with  raw 
material  the  rest  of  the  year. 

Until  recently  it  could  riot  be  said  that  Louisiana 
occupied  a  very  prominent  position  in  manufacturing 
enterprises,  The  very  richness  of  her  soil  seems  to  have 
militated  against  advancement  in  this  direction  except  in 
connection  with  the  preparation  of  raw  agricultual 
products  for  market. 

Agriculture  and  commerce  were  the  two  lodestones 
that  seem  to  have  attracted  capital.  The  development 
of  both  has  gone  hand  in  hand.  The  beginning  of 
many  of  the  large  commission  and  business  houses  of 
New  Orleans  may  be  traced  back  to  the  time  wnen  some 
enterprising  planter  established  himself  in  the  city  so  as 
to  be  in  position  to  market  the  crop  raided  by  his  overseer 
to  best  advantage  and  gradually  extended  his  operations 
so  as  to  include  consignments  from  his  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintances formed  during  the  course  of  his  business  ex- 
perience. Then  again  there  are  business  firms  starting 
as  strictly  commercial  enterprises  whose  members  in 
time  have  bought  country  estates  and  who  now  combine 
into  a  happy  medium  the  occupations  of  merchant, 
broker,  and  planter. 

But  a  change  is  being  wrought.    The  natural  advan- 
tages possessed  by  many  localities  in  the  state  are  mak- 


76  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

ng  themselves  known.  Increasing  population  and  costly 
freight  rates  to  the  distant  manufacturing  centers  are 
the  two  incitants  to  rapid  development  of  manufacturing 
enterprises.  Already  New  Orleans  can  boast  of  2,000 
establishments  where  men  and  women  are  employed  in 
the  production  of  wares  and  articles  of  necessity  "and 
convenience. 

The  hitherto  almost  untouched  forest  treasures  of 
the  state  are  beginning  to  find  their  way  to  the  centers  of 
trade  and  the  hum  of  the  saw  mill,  wood  working  and 
shingle  making  machinery  is  now  heard  in  the  land. 
And  not  alone  is  it  the  land  that  yields  up  its  inex- 
haustible riches,  but  the  waters  of  the  blue  gulf  wash- 
ing the  whole  line  of  its  southern  shores  are  sources  of 
wealth  to  the  man  of  industry.  Louisiana  oysters  are 
the  finest  in  the  world  and  their  reputation  is  rapidly 
extending.  The  most  delicate  and  acceptable  of  food 
fishes  abound  in  the  gulf  waters  and  the  business  of 
catching,  packing,  and  shipping  of  these  to  distant 
points  is  a  prominent  industry. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  77 


Ill- 

If  in  the  beginning  of  the  century  the  question 
should  have  been  propounded  to  a  thoughful  person  as  to 
which  of  the  two, — New  York  or  New  Orleans, — was 

destined  to  become  the 
greater  city,  or  .which 
had  the  brighter  prospect 
for  growth,  the  answer 


Gbe  Commerce 
of  IRew  ©rleane. 


undoubtedly  would  have  favored  the  latter. 

Situated  near  the  mouth  of  one  of  the  noblest  streams 
of  the  world,  whose  tributaries  reached  to  every  part  of 
the  broad  expanse  between  the  Alleghany  and  Rocky 
Mountain  systems,  the  southern  city  at  one  time  gave 
every  evidence  of  outstripping  its  older  eastern  rival. 

This  was  in  the  days  when  freight  and  farm  prod- 
ucts were  compelled  to  follow  natural  routes  to  and 
from  market.  But  time  passed  on.  The  Erie  Canal  was 
dug  and  lines  of  railroad  began  creeping  westward  over 
the  northern  country.  The  wealth  and  sagacity  of  man 
forestalled  nature.  The  Northwest  was  made  tribu- 
tary to  the  east,  and  the  city  by  the  Hudson  became  the 
metropolis  of  the  western  continent. 

But  man  can  not  long  interpose  his  will  in  the  way 
of  Nature.  There  are  those  whose  faith  in  the  future 
of  New  Orleans  persuades  them  to  the  belief  that 
nothing  can  prevent  it  from  becoming  in  time  the  leading 


78  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

American  city.  Already  the  breezes  of  enterprise  are 
playing  about  her  spires.  Within  recent  years  the  rail- 
road builder  has  been  at  work  for  her  also.  Six  trunk 
]!nes1already  terminate  within  her  portals,  coming  from 
all  parts  of  the  U.  S.  Two  more  are  to  follow.  Through 
and  separate  trains  now  connect  her  with  Dallas,  Denver, 
Little  Rock,  Kansas  City,  Memphis,  St.  Louis,  Chicago, 
Louisville,  Cincinnati,  Chattanooga,  Atlanta,  Wash- 
ington, and  New  York. 

'  She  still  has  the  broad  Mississippi  and  its  affluents, 
rendered  the  more  navigable  by  a  perfected  system  of 
levees  and  channel  improvement2  whose  water  ways  re- 
duce the  expense  of  transportation  over  immense  dis- 
tances to  nominal  figures.  The  success  of  the  Jetties3  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  enables  vessels  of  the  heaviest 
draught  to  gain  access  to  her  harbor.  Numerous  lines 
of  transatlantic  steamers  ply  regularly  to  the  port.  The 
South  and  Central  American  countries  are  just  without 
her  doors  and  she  is  the  only  natural  port  through  which 
the  commercial  relations  between  the  U.  S.  and  these 
countries  whose  establishment  is  inevitable  can  be 

1  New  Orleans  and  Northeastern;  Louisville  and  Nashville: 
Illinois  Central;  Louisville,  New  Orleans,   and  Texas    (Mississippi 
Route);  Texas  Pacific:  and  Southern  Pacific. 

2  More  then  ten  million  dollars  have  been  expended  by  the 
U.  S.  government  upon  the  improvement  of  the  Mississippi.     Lou- 
isiana alone  expends  annually  more  than   a  million  doll  ars  upon 
the  construction  and  repair  of  her  levees. 

3  Cost,  $5.000,000. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  79 

brought  about.  The  construction  of  the  proposed  Nica- 
ragua Canal  will  emphasize  her  commercial  supremacy. 
Not  the  least  factors  in  her  growth  will  be  a  Naval  Yard 
and  a  bridge  spanning  the  river  at  the  point  occupied  by 
her,  both  of  which  are  promising  realities  for  the  near 
future. 

Already  New  Orleans  ranks  third  in  commercial  im- 
portance among  the  American  cities.  In  amount  of 
annual  exports4  she  stands  second  only  to  New  York. 
She  is  the  greatest  cotton  market  in  the  world.  With- 
i  n  the  past  year  she  lias  taken  the  first  place  away  from 
New  York  as  the  greatest  grain  shipping  port  in  Amer- 
ica. Her  annual  trade  with  the  interior  approximates 
in  volume  $250,000,000.  The  value  of  the  real  estate 
has  doubled  within  the  last  five  years  and  is  still  rapidly 
advancing. 

Until  recently  New  Orleans  banks  were  famous 
throughout  the  country  for  their  solidity  and  conserva- 
tiveness.  The  panics  which  have  swept  over  the  country 
scattering  the  wrecks  of  speculation  and  bad  manage- 
ement  on  every  hand  seemed  always  to  affect  the  banks 
of  New  Orleans  so  little  that  no  less  an  authority  than 
Hugh  McCulloch,  secretary  of  the  National  Treasury 
during  three  administrations  pays  a  glowing  tribute  to 
their  methods  and  financial  soundness.5 

4  Value  of  annual. exports.  $111,000,000. 

5  See  McCulloch's  "Men  and  Measures  of  Half  a  Century." 


Efcucation  in 

Xouieiana* 


80  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


—IV- 

There  was  a  time  when  it  was  customary  to  decry 
the  South  for  its  lack  of  educational  facilities.  That 
time  has  passed.  True  the  public  school  system  which 

forms  so  interesting  a 
phase  of  American  devel- 
opment was  later  in 
reaching  a  state  of  effi- 
cient organization  than  in  other  sections.  The  respon- 
sibility for  this,  however,  is  to  be  attributed  to  natural 
causes,  and  is  not  to  be  placed  with  those  who  have  pre- 
sided over  the  political  destinies  of  the  section. 

Colonial  life  in  the  North  tended  to  compactness: 
In  the  South,  owing  to  the  peculiar  agricultural  devel- 
opment, the  reverse  was  the  case.  The  necessity  of  edu- 
cation became  apparrent  at  an  early  date  to  both  sections. 
The  community  and  town  life  in  the  North  enabled  it 
to  respond  to  the  need  by  establishing  common  schools 
which  later  developed  into  public  school  systems.  In  the 
South  the  response  could  be  made  only  by  the  employ- 
ment of  the  private  tutors;  or  by  sending  the  youth  to 
the  North  or  abroad,  the  wealth  of  the  southern  planter 
enabling  him  to  make  the  necessary  outlay. 

By  the  time  the  Northwest  Territory  was  organized 
into  States,  popular  education  had  come  to  be  a  living 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  81 

force  in  American  civilization.  Ample  provision  was 
made  for  the  future  public  school  systems  of  these  States6 
by  the  setting  aside  a  large  area  of  the  public  domain, 
the  revenue  from  which  has  magnificently  sustained 
the  purpose  intended.  With  the  possible  exception  of 
Texas  no  southern  State  has  received  so  rich  an  endow- 
ment for  public  school  purposes. 

Louisiana  occupies  a  position  of  its  own  in  the  school 
annals  of  the  country.  No  colony  planted  upon  the  con- 
tinent was  prompter  in  recognizing  the  need  of  educa- 
tional facilities.  As  early  as  1723  the  question  of  estab- 
lishing a  school  began  to  be  agitated,  and  with  such  good 
effect  that  within  four  years7  some  Ursuline  Nuns 
arrived  from  Prance  and  established  the  first  school  in 
Louisiana. 

The  province  of  Louisiana  had  scarcely  passed  to 
American  control  when  the  first  college  was  established.8 
This  was  known  as  the  College  of  Orleans.  Its  curricu- 
lum included  thorough  instruction  in  Greek,  Latin,  Span- 
ish, French,  and  English.  In  1825  it  was  transferred  to 
Jackson,  East  Feliciana  parish  and  its  name  changed  to 
the  College  of  Louisiana.  An  outgrowth  of  this  old  insti- 
tution of  learning  is  the  venerable  Centenary  College  still 
in  operation. 

Efforts  were  made  to  establish  a  school  system  by 
taxation  as  early  as  1808.  A  singular  fact  in  connection 

e  See  Ordinance  of  1787.  71737.  »  1805. 


82  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

with  the  growth  of  education  in  the  State  is  that  up  to 
the  year  1845  more  carefnl  provision -seems  to  have  been 
made  for  the  support  of  secondary  and  higher  institutions 
of  learning  than  for  the  elementary  schools.  In  one 
year9  we  find  at  least  twenty  of  these  colleges  and  acade- 
mies receiving  State  aid. 

Tlie  creation  of  the  State  public  school  system  really 
dates  with  the  year,  1845,  at  which  time  a  new  constitu- 
tion went  into  effect.  In  that  year  the  appropriation  for 
school  purposes  amounted  to  more  than  $60,000,  the 
greater  portion  of  which  amount  was  expended  upon  the 
elementary  schools.10  Alexander  Dimity, -a  savant,  a 
celebrated  linguist,  a  man  of  genius,  and  a  pure  minded 
patriot  was  the  first  State  Superintendent  of  Education. 
Inspired  by  his  active  efforts  we  find  the  State  expend- 
ing for  public  school  purposes  during  the  year  1850 
$602,828— a  handsome  sum  for  thoosdays. 

In  the  period  following  the  last  war  the  development 
of  the  State's  public  school  system  was  greatly  retarded. 
As  the  affairs  of  the  commonwealth  emerged  from  the 
chaos  of  the  reconstruction  era  the  State  began  to  key 
itself  in  educational  unison  with  the  tuneful  march  of 
progress.  When  again  the  people  of  the  State  had  the 
naming  of  their  own  State  officers,  Kobert  M.  Lusher 
was  called  to  the  office  of  State  Superintendent.11  He 
took  up  the  work  where  Dimitry  left  off,  and  to  him 

i  o  $48,420.  1 i  1876. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  83 

every  Louisianian  who  holds  the  welfare  of  his  State  at 
heart,  is  indebted  for  the  great  work  he  did  in  behalf  of 
Louisiana  schools  at  a  most  critical  time  in  their  history. 

Much  of  what  is  best  in  thf  public  school  system 
of  to-day  dates  from  the  year  1884  at  which  time 
Warren  Easton,  a  practical  and  experienced  educator 
and  a  gentleman  of  fine  executive  ability  was  elected 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Education. 

Largely  through  his  personal  efforts  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Natchitoches  was  established;  a  State  Edu- 
cational Association  organized;  the  annual  convention  of 
the  parish  superintendents  of  education  instituted;  Nor- 
mai  Institutes  for  teachers  provided  for;  and  the  school 
law  amended  and  changed  for  the  better. 

The  public  school  system  of  New  Orleans  will  com- 
pare favorably  with  that  of  any  other  American  city. 
The  growth  and  developement  of  this  system  presents 
a  number  of  interesting  phases.  New  Orleans'  original 
municipal  organization  consisted  of  four  districts;  and 
each  had  its  own  elaborate  system  from  the  high  school 
down,  wholly  distinct  from  the  others.  A  fact  that 
may  occasion  some  surprise  among  our  Northern  friends 
is  that  during  its  earlier  school  history  New  Orleans 
furnished  not  a  few  lessons  in  successful  school  organiz- 
ing and  managing  to  cities  which  have  since  become 
educational  famous.12  No  less  a  person  than  Horace 

12  Mr.  Ira  Divoll,  while  superintendent  of  the  St.  Louis  public 


84  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

Mann,  the  great  educational  reformer  of  Massachusetts, 
was  greatly  interested  and  saw  much  to  admire  in  the 
several  school  systems  of  the  New  Orleans  municipal- 
ities. 

During  the  war  the  several  systems  were  consolidated 
and  the  one  great  system  which  now  exists  made  possi- 
ble— a  system  consisting  of  sixty  schools  and  six-hundred 
teachers,  To  no  one  is  due  greater  credit  for  the  high 
character  of  the  New  Orleans  schools  and  their  good 
repute  abroad  than  to  Mr.  Wm.  O.  Rogers  who  served 
for  many  years  as  city  Superintendent;  and  whose  whole 
career  is  intimately  associated  with  the  educational  wel- 
fare of  the  State.  No  chronicler  can  fail  to  recognize  in 
him  one  of  an  illustrious  quartette  having  Dimitry 
Lusher  and  Easton  aspcomonents. 

schools  visited  New  Orleans  on  a  tour  of  inspection  and  publicly 
expressed  his  indebtedness  for  information  received. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  85 


The  flower  of  a  civilization  is  its  literature.  To 
determine  what  progress  a  people  lias  made  towards 
the  higher  refinements  we  have  but  to  examine  into 

I    the  efforts  made  by  that 

Cbe  literatures    |  pe0pie  to  give  voice  and 
in  Xouisiana.      I  exPression   to  what  is 

best     in     their      lives, 


thoughts,  and  feelings.  Let  a  search  light  be  turned 
upon  Louisiana's  past  and  her  contributions  to  art  and 
letters  will  be  found  to  confer  upon  her  an  exalted 
place. 

Having  two  distinct  elements  of  population — the  Latin 
and  the  Anglo-Saxon, —  she  has  developed  two  distinct 
literatures,  in  either  o1  which  the  State  may  well  take 
pride.  The  briefest  account  of  the  work  of  the  French 
writers  of  Louisiana  from  colonial  times  to  the  present 
day  in  the  several  domains  of  History,  Poetry,  Criti- 
cism, Fiction,  and  the  Drama  would  of  itself  fill  a  good 
size  volume.  This  would  include  the  productions  of 
Villeneuve,  DeBouchel,  Remy.  Dufour,  Lussan,  the 
Roquette  brothers,  Cononge,  Dr.  Mercier,  Roman, 
Delery,  Dessommes,  Martin,  Miss  Quorouze,  Mrs.  De  La 
Houssaye  Delpit,  Fortier,  Gayarre  and  a  host  of  others 


86  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

Of  these  the  three  last  named  have  won  more  than 
local  celebrity  although  all  are  worthy  of  the  widest 
recognition. 

Delpit  was  born  and  reared  in  New  Orleans.  Remov- 
ing to  Paris  he  became  known  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
and  successful  of  the  younger  writers  of  the  French 
Capital.  Prof.  Fortier  writes  equally  well  in  English 
and  French.  He  has  made  some  valuable  contributiohs 
to  the  history  of  Louisiana,  and  to  the  history  of  French 
Literature.  His  published  works  and  lectures  have 
a  finish  about  them  that  have  made  them  classics  in  their 
respective  fields.  Gayarre's  historical  works  bear  the 
stamp  of  greatness,  and  were  one  called  upon  to  mention 
the  five  leading  Historians  produced  by  America  his  name 
would  injustice  be  of  the  number. 

The  fact  that  the  English  phase  of  Louisiana's 
literature  is  of  but  recent  development  makes  the  fur- 
ther fact  the  more  remarkable  that  she  already  furnishes 
so  many  bright  stars  to  the  galaxy  of  American  Letters. 
Were  one  to  seek  a  reason  for  the  unusnally  successful 
fruition  of  intellectual  activities  one  might  well  find  it 
to  be  the  high  standard  maintained  by  the  New  Orleans 
journals  from  their  first  date  of  issuance,  and  the 
encouragement  extended  by  them  to  all  whose  earnestness 
is  indicated  by  painstaking  effort.  "The  States,"  "City 
Item,"  "Times-Democrat"  and  "Picayune"  are  all  news- 
papers of  standard  character  and  strong  editorial  caliber 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  87 

but  to  the  last  two  named, — longer  established  than  the 
others,  must  be  given  the  credit  for  much  that  is  best 
in  Louisiana's  present  literary  status. 

To  many  who  read  these  lines  the  names  of  Laf- 
cadio  Hearn.  Mrs.  M.  E.  M.  Davis,  Grace  King,  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Nicholson,  Geo.  W.  Cable,  Mrs.  Ruth  McEnery 
Stuart,  Mary  Ashley  Townsend,  Mrs.  C.  V.  Jamison, 
Charles  Patton  Dimitry,  Julie  K.  Wetherill,  W.  W. 
Howe,  Mrs.  Marie  B.  Williams,  Catherine  Cole  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Dorsey  are  as  household  words. 

Space  perm  its  only  a  bare  mention  of  the  many  gifted 
sons  and  daughters  of  ths  State  whose  pens  are  being  and 
have  been  exercised  to  the  delight  of  their  admirers. 

Among  the  poets  of  Louisiana  may  be  named,  first 
the  brilliant  trio  Mrs.  E.  J.  Nicholson  (Pearl  Rivers),  Mrs. 
M.  E.  M.  Davis,  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Townsend  (Xariffa). 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Nicholson  occupied  while  living  a  unique 
position  among  the  women  of  America,  being  the  only 
lady  proprietor  and  manager  of  a  metropolitan  daily 
newspaper13  in  the  world.  Mrs.  M.  E.  M.  Davis  is 
without  doubt  one  of  the  most  versatile  and  gifted  woman 
writers  the  South  has  yet  produced,  and  her  contributions 
find  places  of  honor  in  the  standard  magazines  of  the 
country.  Mrs.  Townsend's  "Creed''  and  "The  Bather" 
both  deserve  place  among  the  fifty  brightest  gems  in  all 
American  poesy.  The  list  of  Louisiana  poets  might  be 

is  The  New  Orleans  Picayune  founded  in  1837. 


88  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 

extended  to  great  length.  Among  the  most  distin- 
guished may  be  named,  Helen  Pitkin,  William  Preston 
Johnston,  Henry  P.  Dart,  Lucile  Rutland,  Mrs.  M.  A. 
Baker  (Julie  K.  Wetherell),  Mrs.  P.  W.  Mount  (Ruth 
Ramay),  John  Augustin,  Katharine  Kavanagh. 

Among  historians,  Louisiana  furnishes  the  names  of, 
Gayarre  and  Fortier  already  mentioned,  Martin,  Grace 
King,  Castellanos,  John  Dimitry,  William  Miller  Owen. 
The  contributions  of  Louisianians  to  biographical  liter- 
ature include  Wm.  Preston  Johnston's  Life  of  Albert 
Sidney  Johnston;14  Roman's  Life  of  Gen.  P.  G.  T.  Beau- 
regard,  and  Grace  King's  Life  of  Bienville  in  the  Makers 
oi  American  series. 

The  following  are  among  those  who  have  published 
at  least  one  successful  novel,  John  Dimitry,  Mrs.  Dorsey, 
Dr.  W.  H.  Holcombe,  Grace  King,  Mrs.  R.  T.  Buckner, 
Geo.  W.  Cable,  Julie  K.  Wetherell, ;;Laf cad io  Hearn,  Mrs. 
R.  M.  Stuart,  Mrs.  M.  E.  M.  Davis,  E.  C.  Wharton,  Mrs. 
C.  V.  Jamison,  Mrs.  E.  Burke  Collins.  Of  these,  perhaps 
Cable  has  attracted  most  attention,  but  even  his  warmest 
admirers,  in  the  State  that  knows  him  as  a  citizen  no 
longer,  cannot  but  regret  that  after  drinking  deeply 
of  its  crystal  waters  he  should  have  stirred  up  the 
sediment  and  beclouded  the  fountain  of  his  inspiration.15 

Among  themagazinists  and  successful  writers  of  short 

1 *  Father  of  the  biographer. 

is  See  Cable's  -'Silent  South"  and  contributions  on  the  "Negro 
Question." 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY. ,  55 

..,.   , .-...     .   -,._      ;  -     ,  .      I    .  Mr.      <     ..  .  .       ;     .1  ;   . 

stories -ate,;  Mrs,  Davis,  Grace  'King,  Marie  L.Toints, 
Mrs.  Marie  B.  Williams  (of  Opelousas),  Lafcadio  Hearn, 
Mrs  Stuart,  Mrs.  Addie  McGratli  Lee>  Mrs  C.  V.  Jamison,  ! 
Djmitry^  .and  Cable.  Of  these  the?  three  who  have  been 
most  successful  in  catching  upon  the  point  of  their  pens 
the  charnv  of  Creole .  life,  legeM,  and  local  color,  are, 
Mrs.  Bavis>  Miss; Points,  and  Miss  King.  :"  :> 

,  The:  woman  journalist^  of  Louisiana/  •  constitute  a 
most  brilliant  coterie..  A  .  better  all-round  newspaper 
woman  than  Mrs.  M.  -R. ;;  Field  of  the  "New  Orleans 
Times-Demorcrat' '  does  not  exist.  Her  ' 'Catherine  Cole' '  •' 
letters  that  have  been;  a  characteristic •  feature  of  New 
Orleans'  .jowrnals,  for  many>  years  ^touch  the  highest 
water-mark  of  charm  of  expression '•  and-  power  of  des- 
crijption.  Mrs.  E.  J.  Bently  (of  Donald  son  viile),  Mrs.  Gar- 
ner Graham,  Mrs.  Addle  McGrath  Lee,  Mrs.  Mattie  H. 
Williams  and  Mrs.  Julia- -Rule  (of  Shreveport),  Mrs.  M. 
B.  .Slaughter  (of  Mt.  Lebanon)*  who  as  ^'Pleasant  Rider- 
hood"  has  long  been  identified  with  the  Detroit  Free 
Press,  and  Mrs.  Leon  Jastremski  are  all  practical  and 
working  journalists  who  would  bring  honor  to  wider  fields 
thanthe  ones  they  now  occupy. 


90  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO 


-VI- 


3future 
of  OLouieiana, 


We  have  given  as  fully  as  the  compass  of  these  pages 
will  permit,  a  narrative  of  Louisiana's  past,  and  a 
description  of  its  present.  What  its  f'lture  is  to  be  only 

time  can  determine. 
Judging  the  future  by 
tne  present  and  past,  the 
state  has  nothing  to  fear. 
As  high  a  type  of  manhood  has  developed  within  her 
borders  as  may  anywhere  be  found;  and  coming  gener- 
ations may  well  revert  to  these  as  standards  by  which 
they  may  guage  their  own  advance. 

A  State  that  has  given  to  the  world  the  greatest 
American-born  naturalist,16  the  greatest  architectural 
genius  native  to  American  soil,17  the  only  musical  vir- 
tuoso of  world-wide  fame  produced  by  this  continent,18 
the  master  genius  of  all  time  in  the  chess  world,19  the 
greatest  legal  light  of  the  century,20  who  at  an  age  when 
most  men  are  descending  from  the  pinacle  of  their  life 
work  entered  single-handed  thejforum  of  the  English  Bar 
and  was  at  once  proclaimed  its  leader,  that  has  given  to 

ie  John  J.  Audubon. 

IT  Richardson. 

i  e  Gottschalk. 

isPaul  Morphy. 

20  Judah  P.  Benjamin. 


LOUISIANA  HISTORY.  91 

the  United  States  a  President,21  an  orator  whose  claim 
to  co-peerage  was  unquestioned  by  such  fellow  senators  as 
Webster,22  a  military  engineer  who  in  defensive  opera- 
tions was  never  equalled,23  that  has  erected  the  first 
statue  of  a  woman  yet  reared  in  the  Western  World.24 
Such  a  State  may  well  hold  up  her  head  among  her 
sisters  and  her  daughters  wear  in  modesty  and  grace 
the  heritage  of  lovliness  and  purity  she  has  bequeathed 
to  them. 

21  Zachary  Taylor. 
2  2  Pierre  Soule. 

23  Beauregard. 

24  Margeret's  statue  erected  in  honor  of  Margeret  Haughery 
philanthropist  and  founder  of  orphanages. 


This  book  is  DUE 


' 


«• 


SNov'SSEOI 


NW 


LD21 


_100m-9,'48(B399sl6)476 


M315771 


